Phoenixville, Perkiomen Valley set pool-records at PV Invitational

GRATERFORD >> Phoenixville swimming coach Dan Weinstein considers the Perkiomen Valley Swimming & Diving Invitational as a “dress rehearsal” for the District 1 Championships, which will take place in three weeks at La Salle University.

The 18th annual edition of the swimming event, featuring top swimmers and divers from around the Pioneer Athletic Conference and Ches-Mont League, took place Saturday at Perkiomen Valley High School. The boys were featured during the early hours of the event while the girls took center stage at the close of proceedings.

Highlights of some of the action included a record-setting showing by Weinstein’s own Phantom girls.

Phoenixville set a pool-record in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:38.60. The relay consisted of junior Kathryn Bland, freshman Katya Hayward, junior Emily Fabius and junior Maddie Cooke on the anchor.

Phoenixville broke the record of 1:39.23, which was set by Methacton in 2015.

Just as quickly as the Phantoms set a record, they also watched one of theirs come down.

Phoenixville lost possession of the 200-yard medley relay record that was set last winter. The record, which was set by current juniors Liz Hussin, Cooke, Fabius and Bland, was broken on Saturday by Downingtown East. The quartet, consisting of freshman Heather MacCausland, freshman Caroline Maki, junior Tara Collier and senior Chase Umberger, established a new record this year of 1:50.18, bettering Phoenixville’s time of 1:50.26.

Perkiomen Valley’s 400 free relay closed the meet with a pool-record 3:37.12. The quartet consisted of Megan Gray, Kayla King, Elizabeth Turner and Elle Thorneloe.

The Cougars’ MacCausland also established a new individual record with a time of 2:03.99. Methacton junior Emily Sykes had held that record after she posted a 2:03.99 clocking during last-year’s meet.

Both Phoenixville and Downingtown East were pitted in Heat 5 of five heats in the finals of the 200-yard medley relay.

“Everybody is really competitive in the relays, and everybody is really doing their best out here,” said Weinstein. “You see other great seasons by kids who step up and move to the forefront.”

He also said the two leagues feature some of the top coaches around the area, who have guided their respective swimmers to become some of the best boys and girls in the pool around the area at the same time.

Perkiomen Valley senior Megan Gray won the 100 free in 53.26, followed by Boyertown’s Cara Megill in second at 54.10 and Pottsgrove’s Emily Glinecke in third at 54.17.

Glinecke also won the 200-yard IM with a time of 1:55.68. Spring-Ford’s Rebecca Cubbler finished second at 1:56.27.

Cooke placed second in the 200 IM at 2:10.24 with Methacton’s Emily Sykes third at 2:11.76.

Perkiomen Valley’s King finished second in the 100 fly at 59.93. Owen J. Roberts sophomore Madison Gadzicki came in fifth at 1:00.37.

On the boys’ side, Spring-Ford’s Carson Huff and Noah Cancro finished 1-2 in the 200 IM with time of 2:04.28 and 2:04.30, respectively.

Owen J. Roberts senior Colin Bauer won the 50 free in 21.90.

Boyertown’s Patrick Lance won the 100 fly (52.48) while Bear teammate Ivan Escott came in third at 53.83.

Pottsgrove’s Kevin Basch captured the 500 free in 4:48.86 with Spring-Ford’s Carson Hilliard second at 5:00.00. Methacton’s Michael Palumbo finished third at 5:00.22 and Perkiomen Valley’s Luke Waite fourth at 5:00.44.

Spring-Ford’s Noah Cancro placed first in the 100 breast at 1:02.91.

The Rams’ relay of Eric Jordan, Carson Hilliard, Carson Huff and Noah Cancro finished first in the 400 free relay at 3:19.36.

NOTES >> Diving took place Thursday evening at the same site. … Medals were awarded to the top three swimmers and divers in each event and were distributed to the coaches at the conclusion of the meet. … Perkiomen Valley swimming coach Brian Zeigler served as swimming director while Traci Sandin was the diving director. … Basch finished second in the 200 free at 1:48.54.