Record nights for OJR’s Richards, PV’s Replogle
A lot of the pressure was off at the Pioneer Athletic Conference boys swimming championships Friday night at Perkiomen Valley High School. The league title had already been decided and most of the swimmers who had hoped to record district-qualifying times this season had already done so.
But there was still quite a bit of serious competition and a pair of record-setting performances as Owen J. Roberts, which won the PAC with a 10-0 dual meet record, came out on top again with 55 points to runner-up Methacton’s 40. Perk Valley finished third with 36.
OJR junior Logan Richards broke the 31-year-old pool record in the 500 freestyle and PV senior Jacob Replogle set his third team record, this time in the 100 backstroke.
“I’m really happy about that,” said Replogle, who was already up on the team record board in the 200 and 500 freestyle. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a while.”
His record-setting backstroke time of 52.75 came in the most hotly-contested race of the night as he nipped Methacton’s Christopher Groff, whose time of 52.93 also topped the former record of 53:35 set by PV’s Matt Marsh in 2018.
“I’ve been training hard all season,” said Replogle, who won the District 1 gold and the state bronze medals in the 500 free and placed fifth in the 200 free at states last year. “Before districts, I’ll rest a little bit. The goal this year is to win the whole thing.”
Richards’ time of 4:36.39 in the 500 free was nearly 22 seconds faster than his nearest competitor and erased the oldest record on the Perk Valley record board of 4:39.04 set in 1991.
“I’m at the peak of my training right now,” said Richards, who also won the 200 free at 1:44.62 and helped the 200 free relay team to a season-best time of 1:28.89 and first place. “Two weeks from now, I’ll start to rest. I just wanted to see what I could do.”
Roberts freshman Colin Davis won the 50 free in 21.89 and Wildcat teammate Eskander Bierman placed first in the 100 free with a time of 50.01.
“Just enjoying time with the team,” said Davis. “Just bonding with the team. I’m having a blast with the whole group…. I know a lot of the upperclassmen and there’s a lot more bonding going on and getting to know each other better.”
Methacton’s Thomas Gibbs finished first in the 100 butterfly with a time of 52.36 and he and Groff helped the Warriors to wins in the 200 medley and 400 free relays. PV’s Cooper Demark swam a 1:00.20 to win the 100 breaststroke.
Many of the same competitors will continue on to the District 1 meet to be held at the York County YMCA on February 25 and 26.
“I prefer multiple-day meets,” said Richards. “I like more time before my events. I like to spend time with our team. But to compete against 10 schools at once (on Friday) is neat.”
Replogle, who will once again compete in the 200 and 500 free from now on, also won the 200 individual medley on Friday with a time of 1:56.13.
“I thought it was really fun tonight,” he said. “Especially getting to see my teammates swim really fast and some for the last time. And others who will also be going to districts.”