Pottsgrove boys win first PAC-10 meet in three years

SCHUYLKILL — Both Phoenixville and Pottsgrove had aspects to be happy about after their tri-meet with Great Valley at the Phoenixville Area YMCA pool on Tuesday afternoon.

Phoenixville’s girls swept both ends of the meet, beating Pottsgrove, 70-24, in a Pioneer Athletic Conference meet and defeating the Patriots in a non-league addition, 51-43.

Pottsgrove’s boys, by the same token, were ecstatic about winning their first PAC-10 meet in three years by defeating Phoenixville, 54-40.

In other results, Great Valley’s girls downed Pottsgrove, 72-22, while the boys stopped Phoenixville, 52-42, and Pottsgrove, 58-36.

Phoenixville freshman Maddie Cooke was a double individual winner in the 200-meter IM (2:29.80) and 100 freestyle (1:01.11). Cooke also teamed with Ashley Sierzega, Emily Fabius and Shawna Moore to win the meet-opening 200-meter medley relay in 2:10.68.

“We graduated so many of our record-holders and our state medley relay team,’ said Phoenixville coach Dan Weinstein. “We are really fortunate to have these freshmen stepping in to fill their shoes. We didn’t lose a beat. We have more depth this year than we have ever had. So it’s going to be a real exciting season for us.’

Moore and Sierzega are the two most experienced senior leaders on the team. They are providing leadership for the talented freshmen like Cooke, Fabius and Kathryn Bland.

The Phantoms finished one-two in the 100 butterfly with Moore (1:10.36) and Liz Hussin (1:16.92) taking honors.

Fabius won the 100 backstroke (1:15.11) and also posted a second place finish in the 50 freestyle (29.29).

Bland placed second in the 200 freestyle (2:27.46) and 100 breast (1:26.01). Sierzega finished third in the 100 freestyle (1:09.71). Anna Florio produced a second place finish in the 400 freestyle for the Phantoms (5:21.40).

Phoenixville’s Grace Kiernan took third in the 200 IM (2:51.09) while Emilie Ritter came in fourth in the 50 freestyle (32.12). Phoenixville’s Hannah O’Leary came in fifth in the 200 freestyle.

The tri-meet had an extra dimension compared to the usual dual meets.

“The tri-meet with Great Valley made it real interesting,’ said Weinstein. “We were able to hang tougher with Great Valley because the depth is gone.’

Weinstein also continues to stress the importance of finishes from third through sixth place to provide extra points toward the final team score along with the big guns.

The Falcons got a second place finish from Courtney Sheffer in the 100 backstroke (1:17.38) as well as a fourth place finish from Sheffer in the 400 freestyle (5:29.61). Pottsgrove’s Nicole Youtzy placed third in the 100 butterfly (1:17.75) and fifth in the 200 IM (2:53.40).

On the boys’ side, the Falcons were led by senior Morgan Schreiber and sophomore Kevin Basch. Schreiber won the 100 backstroke (1:04.07) and finished third in the 100 butterfly (1:10.08).

Basch won the 400 freestyle (4:32.51) and finished second in the 200 freestyle (2:15.64).

“I think they did really well,’ said Pottsgrove first-year head coach Karen Youtzy, who previously served as a Falcon assistant coach for two seasons. “We haven’t won a PAC-10 meet in quite a while. With Great Valley, it was hard. All our kids did really well, especially coming off the Christmas break.’

Pottsgrove’s Michael Prior finished second in the 200 IM (2:29.98) and fourth in the 100 back.

Phoenixville’s Robert Newman won the 100 freestyle (1:01.12), and he also came in second in the 50 freestyle (27.33). The Phantoms’ Josh Ziev won the 100 breast (1:18.87).

The Phantoms’ Jan Aclan finished third in the 200 freestyle (2:18.11) and 100 back (1:07.84). Weinstein is high on freshman Josh Hayward, who took fourth in the 100 butterfly at 1:10.08.