North Penn boys, girls stay unbeaten with wins over Souderton

TOWAMENCIN — Pushing all the way to the end, North Penn’s 400-yard freestyle relay capped things off in fitting fashion Thursday evening, as Brett Else, Kyle Supko, Liam Kelly and Thanas Kountroubis held off surging Souderon Area one final time.

Adrenaline was still overflowing at the Rick Carroll Natatorium.

“It was a good way to go out,’ Else said. “It’s just a really fun meet — good crosstown rivalry. We love this meet every year. We don’t have to travel far to each other’s pool and it’s just great competition.’

Else and the Knights put in a tremendous, full-day’s work, earning a 110-71 victory over Big Red while the Maidens also stayed perfect this season, powering their way to a 112-68 win over Souderton.

The Knights and Maidens were able to sweep the relays and were propelled further along by some inspired efforts, including Harrison Friel’s second-place 100 breaststroke swim of 1:02.45, and freshman Aidan Daly going sub-five minutes in the 500, also notching a second-place finish.

“Everybody lives for the rivalry meets,’ Maidens coach Matt Weiser said. “It was great. I thought our kids really stepped up today. There were a lot of people here today — it was loud, and it was just a great atmosphere for a meet.’

In a meet loaded with fast times, Megan Zartman, Kailyn Evans and Olivia DiStefano distinguished themselves even further by winning four events — two individual swims as well as the relays.

Kountroubis was a four-event winner for the Knights while Corey Smith took a pair of individual events and got it all started by leading off the winning 200 medley relay.

“We started off the meet really strong,’ said Knights coach Jeff Faikish, “and followed it all the way through.’

In one of the best races of the day, Else was able to touch four hundredths of a second before Souderton’s Cristian Musterait in the 100 free, as North Penn extended its lead.

“The 100 was probably the highlight of my night,’ Else said. “(Going against) Cristian Musterait, who’s a great swimmer and a great guy, it was a really good race.’

Big Red was impressive in several events and notched automatic district-qualifying times in multiple spots, including the girls 200 free relay. Spencer Nice, a freshman, was first in both the 100 fly and the 100 breast for the Indians.

“We needed a crazy-fast meet and we got a crazy-fast meet,’ Big Red coach Caitlin Warren said. “We had some good swims on both sides.’