A memorable final appearance for pair
LEWISBURG — Keller Pooley made her final trip to the PIAA Swimming and Diving championships a memorable one.
Pooley, a senior from Liberty, posted a score of 222.30 points to capture fifth place in diving on Friday at the Class 3A competition on Friday at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium.
‘I came here last year and I got 10th so this was my first medal and it’s really exciting,” she said.
The event went from 11 dives in previous seasons to just six dives.
“I think there was less room for error, but I do like that it goes so much faster,” Pooley said. “It’s a little more stressful because I know if I mess up on a dive it’s going to cost me a lot more than it would in an 11-dive meet.
“I honestly thought I was a lot lower in the standings then I was so this was a great surprise. I’m really happy with the way it turned out.”
Easton senior Madison Cunard was sixth in diving (218.55), earning a medal in her first and only state appearance. She narrowly missed a state spot in 2022.
“I was just happy to be here,” Cunard said. “I didn’t know up until 10 minutes ago that I was going to place and get a medal. It feels amazing.
“Definitely, I think my front double pike at the end of the meet really sealed it for me and this is just a great way to end my high school career. I can’t think of anything better.”
Hayden Taylor of Freedom, a freshman, was 17th in diving (171.20 points).
Kseniia Luniushina of East Stroudsburg just missed the consolation heat in her event, finishing 17th in the 200 freestyle (1:55.23).
Simone Lin of Parkland was 24th in the 200 freestyle (1:56.11).
She also led off the 200 medley relay for Kelsey McPeek, Milla Hahn and Madison Roseman, which was 26th (1:51.23).
Freshman Milla Hahn swam two individual events for the Trojans, finishing 28th in the 200 individual medley (2:16.95) and 31st in the 100 butterfly (1:01.71).
For the boys, Nazareth seniors Jack Hasker and Tyler Tinsley both competed in the 50 freestyle. Hasker posted a time of 21.78 for 25th place, while Tinsley was 27th (21.85). Teammate and fellow junior Cole Coffman was 30th in the 100 butterfly (52.97).
Aaron Stinner, a junior from Whitehall, was 27th in the 200 freestyle (1:46.04).
The Emmaus 200 freestyle relay of Andrew Taylor, Ryan DeJohn, Logan Shriver and Anderson Borst finished 28th (1:28.78).
The boys Class 2A competition concluded late Thursday night.
Noah Powers of Blue Mountain capped the meet with a fourth-place finish in the 100 freestyle (45.92).
“I’m very happy with that time,” he said. “I wanted to break a 46 and I did that. It was a really good race and that competition really helps me. Racing against these kids, like Preston (Kessler of Indiana, the winner), he’s an awesome swimmer, Jacob Wade (Susquehannock, the fifth place finisher) and Luke Hancock (Bishop McDevitt, eighth place), that just pushes me to go as fast as I possibly can.
“Next year, I’ll definitely remember how competitive this is and how hard I have to work to do well here. This is probably the most competitive thing I’ll ever do. This is big, and it’s a lot of fun. I have great memories, I made a lot of new friends. It’s an awesome meet.”
Blue Mountain finished 11th in boys team scoring with 79 points.