Perkiomen Valley takes step toward ‘ Triple Double’
GRATERFORD — Perkiomen Valley High’s boys’ swim team is looking for a “Triple Double’ this season. Obviously, it has nothing to do with points, rebounds or assists.
The Vikings are looking to post their third consecutive season as a double champion — to win the title in the Ches-Mont League for the third year in a row and to capture the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship, which would mark four straight.
The Perk Valley boys took another step toward that goal Friday afternoon when they posted a 97-84 Ches-Mont League National Division win over visiting Downingtown West. The Viking girls also fared well as they logged a 104-82 victory over the visiting Whippets.
In the boys’ meet, the host squad’s top scorers were Anthony Crane, Wyatt Amdor and Kyle Dix.
Crane took first in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:51.64 and then came back later to win the 100 freestyle at 50.76.
“I was very happy with my 100,’ said Crane, who will swim for Arcadia University next year. “My best is only a little faster. I was racing my friend and teammate Bryce Groshardt. I really wanted to beat him because he beat me in our last meet. I took it out really hard. In the last 25, I gave it my all and tried to hang on.
“The 200 free was another of my best times this season. I usually take it out hard. Today, I didn’t take it out as hard as usual. I tried to slow it down so I could come back with more. I had consistent splits. But, I was pretty tired near the end.’
Amdor started with a win in the 200 IM with a clocking of 2:00.98 and later touched first in the 100 breaststroke at 1:00.38.
“My IM was all right,’ said Amdor. “I’ve been working a lot on my technique. In practice, I need to work more on back — especially my underwaters. And, I have to push harder. My 100 breast was just all right. I was hurting in the last 50.’
Dix logged his first individual win of the meet in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.65 and then clocked a 52.95 in the 100 free to place first in that event.
“I had a personal best in the 50 free so that felt really good,’ said Dix, a junior who has grown at least six inches taller since his freshman season. “It was all in my start. And, my underwaters felt really good too.
“My fly time was close a personal best — and that was without a cap and without a (fast) suit. It was a pretty good meet overall. I think one of the reasons my times are dropping is that I’ve grown three inches since last year.’
Dix and Amdor also teamed with Bryce Groshardt and Logan Thorneloe on the winning 200 medley relay and with Crane and Groshardt on the foursome that touched first in the 400 freestyle relay.
In the girls’ meet, the Vikings claimed the win with their depth. Downingtown West’s Lexi Rauth, Meghan Keithly and Emily Harris accounted for the first-place finishes in the meet’s first six individual events.
The Vikings’ lone individual winners in swimming events were Mariana Bernal, who won the 100 breaststroke at 1:10.92, and Ashley Dowiak, who took first in the 100 backstroke at 1:05.31.
“Back was good today,’ said Dowiak. “I’m pleased. My time was the best this season. I went out harder and really tried to keep up the pace on the last lap. It felt pretty good. My fly time was also my best for this season.’
Bernal said, “Breaststroke was a good race for me. It was my fastest time this season. I just wanted the time really bad to make district cuts — and I made it. My IM was my best this season too. I’ve been working a lot on my backstroke.’
A big plus in the scoring column for the Vikes was their ability to take first in all three relays. They also received key scoring from Ellie Thorneloe, who was second in the 200 free at 2:02.82 and second in the 500 free at 5:34.57, and Megan Gray, who was second in the 100 freestyle with a time of 54.10 and second in the100 backstroke at 1:06.03.
“The 200 was my better race,’ said Thorneloe. “I tried to go after the Downingtown West girl. That’s what you have to do. It was a great time. I dropped two seconds off my personal best. I also dropped two seconds off my all-time best in the 500 free.’
Girls
Perkiomen Valley 104 Downingtown West 82
200-yard medley relay — Perkiomen Valley (Dowiak, Bernal, Bonsall, Heelan) 1:55.30; 200 freestyle — Harris (D) 1:57.58; 200 IM — Rauth (D) 2:17.62; 50 freestyle — Keithly (D) 25.50; diving — McKenna (D) 192.90; 100 butterfly — Keithly (D) 1:01.26; 100 freestyle — Harris (P) 53.36; 500 freestyle — Rauth (D) 5:29.69; 200 freestyle relay — Perkiomen Valley (Schroeder), Gray, Heelan, Thorneloe) 1:42.77; 100 backstroke — Dowiak (P) 1:05.31; 100 breaststroke — Bernal (P) 1:10.92; 400 freestyle relay — Perkiomen Valley (Schroeder, King, Thorneloe, Gray) 3:46.18.
Boys
Perkiomen Valley 97 Downingtown West 84
200-yard medley relay — Perkiomen Valley (Groshardt, Amdor, Thorneloe, Dix) 1:40.49; 200 freestyle — Crane (P) 1:51.64; 200 IM — Amdor (P) 2:00.98; 50 freestyle — Dix (P) 21.65; diving — McAnally (D) 166.95; 100 butterfly — Dix (P) 52.95; 100 freestyle — Crane (P) 50.76; 500 freestyle — Miller (D) 5:29.69; 200 freestyle relay — Downingtown West (Dougherty, Logan, Trimble, Miller) 1:34.79; 100 backstroke — Groshardt (P) 57.95; 100 breaststroke — Amdor (P) 1:00.38; 400 freestyle relay — Perkiomen Valley (Crane, Groshardt, Amdor, Dix) 3:25.08.
