Pottsgrove’s Agnew gold, Prior silver; Boyertown’s Lance atones for Day 1
The wisest wisdom so often comes from one’s father. Just ask Patrick Lance. A day after the Boyertown senior opened up his final District One Class AAA Championships appearance with a dud, he went home and sat down with his dad, Jeffrey Lance.
“I sat down with him, and we just talked it over,” said Lance. “He told me, ‘Don’t let yesterday dictate tomorrow.’ I stuck with that and put it behind me.” It paid off. Lance returned to La Salle University’s Kirk Na-
tatorium with a renewed focus on March 3 and posted a 47.38 for sixth place in the 100-yard freestyle. Although his time isn’t up for automatic qualification to the PIAA Championships later this month — top five finishers in Class AAA advance automatically — he and head coach Bill Draves were both confident that he’dmake it based on time qualifications.
Joining Lance at Bucknell for states will be Pottsgrove’s Patrick Agnew, a gold medalist in the Class AA 100 free where he posted a 48.95. Senior teammate Mikey Prior is also likely to advance based on time qualifications as his 52.97 silver finish in the 100 back should be enough to swim at states (Class AA automatically qualifies just top finishers on the boys side).
Lance opened up his fourth and final trip to districts in disappointing fashion. Entering as the No. 2 seed in the 100 fly, the Cleveland State University commit posted a 51.99, good for ninth place. A day later, he was cutting through the water with a whole new purpose.
“My dad’s voice was ringing through my head today, I won’t lie,” said Lance. “Iwas somotivated coming into it. Iwanted to completely erase yesterday (Thursday) frommymemory.”
A trip toBucknellwould be Lance’s third consecutive, though he’s never gotten out of the morning preliminary round.
Spring-Ford’s Noah Cancro did not medal at districts, but did make the PIAA Championships in two events: the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard breakstroke.
He is seeded No. 26 in both events.
Big Picture
In Class AA action, Lower Moreland defended its title, claiming the championship with 472 team points while Springfield-Montco followed with 304.5. Upper Perkiomen finished fifth with 211 teampointswhile Pottsgrove finished right behind with 181.
In Class AAA, North Penn stole the crown from Upper Dublin. The Knights won it with 302.5 team points, followed by Conestoga (180), Hatboro-Horsham (178) and Upper Dublin (171). Boyertown finished 11th in standings with 88 points while Spring-Ford was 17th with 45 points.