Pottsgrove’s Glinecke grabs silver in 200 free at PIAA Class AA Championships
LEWISBURG — Less than two weeks after she took home two gold medals and broke a record at the District 1 Championships, Pottsgrove junior Emily Glinecke kept up her winning ways Wednesday as she draped a silver medal around her neck at the PIAA Class AA Swimming Championships at Bucknell University’s Arthur D. Kinney Natatorium.
Glinecke, who transferred to Pottsgrove from the Hill School at the beginning of this year, swam her way to the silver in the 200 freestyle, touching at a personal-best 1:51.81 in her first-ever try at states.
“This was a great way to start out my career at states,’ she said. “I was really excited to have a chance to swim in the 200 free (at states), and I knew it was going to be tough, but it was also something I really wanted to do well in.’
Coming into Wednesday, Glinecke was the fourth seed in the 200 free, but after placing second in the preliminaries, she worked her way up two places.
“This is what I’ve been working for all season, and it feels great that it’s finally paid off,’ she said. “All the early mornings, the late practices … it’s all worth it to have won a medal.’
Glinecke will look to clang her silver against another medal on the second day of the state championships Thursday as the second seed in the 100 breaststroke.
Upper Perkiomen’s Brandon Umstead and Kirsten Siwy both placed in the consolation rounds as Umstead took 10th place in the 200 IM and Siwy placed 14th in the 200 free.
For Umstead, the state tournament means one thing — one last chance to better his finish from last season where he finished ninth in the 200 IM and 12th in the 100 back.
On Wednesday he finished 10th, touching in a personal-best 1:58.89.
Although he may not have placed better, he still takes plenty of pride in bettering his time.
“I broke my own record in the preliminaries and then did even better than that in the consolations,’ he said. “It’s hard for me to be upset after I post my best time.’
With just one race on his radar before the conclusion of his high school swimming career — the 100 back — Umstead admits he’ll be eyeing one last chance to bring home a medal.
“I’m really looking forward to see what I can do (Thursday). I really want to finish my career with a medal,’ he said. “One last race and that’s it. I just want to give it my all.’
In her second go-around at states, Siwy finished the 200 free at 1:56.88.
Despite entering the state championship as the 21st seed, the junior swam a 1:57.36 in the 200 free preliminaries, which gave her life in the consolations.
“My overall goal was to make it to the consolations and drop my overall time,’ she said. “And I did both. I swam a personal best today, there’s not really much else I can ask for. It feels awesome.’
The only thing she will have to ask for is another strong performance Thursday as she’ll compete in the 100 free as the 24th seed.
Pottsgrove’s Kevin Basch and Michael Prior were unable to get past their preliminary rounds along with Pottstown’s Anthony Gazzillo.
Basch finished the 200 free at 1:48.13, good enough for 20th place, while Prior placed 27th in the 200 IM, posting a time of 2:06.49.
Although he didn’t make it to the consolation round, Basch has placed his greatest focus on his fifth-seeded 500 free, which will take place on Day 2.
“(Thursday) is the day that I’ve been really focused on,’ the junior said. “That’s been my event all year. I’m seeded pretty well and I’m feeling pretty confident that I’ll be able to do well.’
For Prior, he feels as though he gained a lot of experience in his first trip to states. The sophomore came in as the 30th seed and moved up three spots in the preliminaries.
“I think swimming at states can give me a big advantage in the next couple of years,’ he said. “I’ll be able to prepare myself better and hopefully I won’t be as nervous before my swim. It feels really good to make it this far, especially when I still have two more years to get better.’
In his first trip to states in four seasons swimming, Gazzillo placed 30th in the 50 free (22.74) just a few weeks after winning the gold at districts where he touched at 22.69.
But the senior admits, he’s enjoying the moment of competing against the best across the state.
“I’m happy just to have an opportunity to compete here,’ he said. “I’m a bit disappointed in my time, but still, this has been a really cool experience so far.’
He’ll look to have better luck one Day 2 where he is the 28th seed in the 100 free.
NOTES — Glinecke was just .10 behind York Suburban’s Carson Cross in the 200 free for the gold. Siwy cut .21 seconds off her district time, which is a new personal best.
