Pottsgrove boys defeat Phoenixville in final heat, Phoenixville girls handily defeat Pottsgrove

PHOENIXVILLE — The drama in Tuesday’s Pottsgrove-Phoenixville Pioneer Athletic Conference swimming meet came on the boys’ side.

The final outcome came down to the final event, the boys 400-meter freestyle relay, at the Phoenixville Area YMCA pool. There, Pottsgrove junior Kevin Basch outdueled Phoenixville senior Jan Aclan down the stretch of the anchor leg to give the Falcons the race victory as well as a 90-80 team victory for the Pottsgrove boys.

The Phoenixville and Pottsgrove boys fought neck-and-neck throughout their portion of the meet with Phoenixville leading early at 48-47 and then a tie at 52, 61-59 Phantoms and finally 80-76 Falcons heading into the final event.

On the girls’ side, Phoenixville had an easy time of it with a 120-48 victory over Pottsgrove.

Pottsgrove’s boys are now 2-3 in the PAC-10 (2-5 overall) while Phoenixville fell to 0-5 (1-7 overall). The Phoenixville girls are now 2-3 in the PAC-10 (5-3 overall) while Pottsgrove slipped to 1-4 (1-6 overall).

The Pottsgrove quartet of sophomore Michael Prior, freshman Patrick Agnew, senior Matthew Bush and Basch won the 400-meter freestyle relay in a time of 4:02.38. Phoenixville’s unit consisting of senior Josh Ziev, junior Jack Thompson, sophomore Josh Hayward and Aclan checked in at 4:03.96.

“Kevin Basch did awesome,’ said Pottsgrove coach Karen Youtzy. “He won the 200 free, 100 free and anchored the winning 400 free relay. They (Falcons) did fantastic.’

Basch won the 200 free in 2:13.98 and the 100 free in 57.62. Basch also swam the leadoff leg of the victorious 200 freestyle relay that was timed in 1:53.87.

“That was heartbreaking,’ Phoenixville assistant coach Julie Cordingley said of the boys’ race. “That would have been nice. The last leg, Basch, did a 56, which was nice.’

Cordingley coached the Phantoms in the absence of ill head coach Dan Weinstein.

Youtzy also applauded Prior for an outstanding swim in the butterfly and backstroke after he won both events. Prior captured the 100 butterfly in 1:06.75 and the 100 backstroke in 1:04.42.

Freshman Patrick Agnew claimed the 100 breaststroke in 1:22.45 for the Falcons.

“They (Falcons) knew they all had to work hard, and they did,’ said Youtzy.

Phoenixville sophomore Matt Tweedie won the 200-meter IM in 2:45.39. Ziev, a senior, touched first in the 50 freestyle at 26.85 and placed second in the 100 free at 57.78 behind Basch. The Phantoms’ team of Aclan Ziev, Hayward and senior Ryan Flamma won the 200 medley relay in 2:02.00.

The Phoenixville girls continue to shine, led by their dynamic group of sophomores.

In the girls’ 200 medley relay, Phoenixville came in first at 2:10.77 with a group of sophomores Kathryn Bland, Maddie Cooke, Liz Hussin and Emily Fabius.

Phoenixville sophomore Anna Florio won the 200 freestyle (2:29.79) and came back to double in the 400 freestyle (5:15.09). Hussin copped the 200 IM (2:43.94). Fabius was on top in the 50 freestyle (29.63) and 100 free (1:04.60) while Cooke led the way in the 100 butterfly (1:08.97).

In the girls’ 200 freestyle relay, Phoenixville placed first with a unit of Cooke, and sophomores Grace Kiernan, Emily Ritter and Fabius on the anchor. The Phantoms’ time was 2:00.65.

In the 400 free relay, Cooke teamed up with Ritter, Hussin and Bland for a 4:30.89 finish that won the event.

Pottsgrove’s girls had a double winner in junior Emily Glinecke, who finished first in the 100 backstroke (1:12.31) and 100 breaststroke (1:19.15).

“We have a young team,’ said Cordingley. “But we do have 11 seniors, six boys and five girls. Josh Ziev, we’re going to miss him.’