Pottsgrove’s Basch captures long-awaited gold at District 1-AA meet

Philadelphia >> He knew this would be his last shot.

So Pottsgrove’s Kevin Basch left everything he had in the water.

Closing out his final appearance at the District 1-AA Championships on Saturday afternoon, the senior posted a nearly record-breaking 4:35.22 in the 500 free to capture the gold medal at La Salle University’s Kirk Natatorium.

“All the practices, the long hours in the pool — this is worth all of it,” said Basch of his gold medal. “I was a little mad I didn’t break the record, but it’s great to have the gold.”

The time gives him an automatic qualification to compete at the PIAA Championships in two weeks at Bucknell University.

Basch will ride home with his gold medal clanging alongside his silver medal in the 200 free from the day previous.

Sporting the gold, he says he was finally able to break through the threshold after winning the silver last season and the bronze the year before.

“I wanted to leave this meet with a bang,” Basch said. “The 500 has always been my best event, so I knew this was my last shot to make it memorable. I left everything I had out there.”

In the early stages of his race, he found himself a few paces behind Lower Moreland sophomore Connor Killion. According to Basch, it was all part of his plan.

“I knew he would start out faster than me, that was given,” he said, “but I kept moving at a good pace and was eventually able to pass him. Around lap 13, I still felt really good and was able to close it out strong.”

Also qualifying for the state championship was Methacton senior Gil Price in the Class AAA 100 free. Pottsgrove junior Mike Prior captured the silver in AA, so his time will go to time qualification.

At the conclusion of the District Championships, Lower Moreland captured the AA crown with 381 team points while Upper Moreland finished second at 286. Pottsgrove took fourth place with 223 points followed by Upper Perkiomen at fifth with 222.

In AAA action, Upper Dublin took first overall with 292 points followed by North Penn at 236. Owen J. Roberts finished ninth with 82 while Methacton was 21st with 35 points.

Price served as Methacton’s lone boys state qualifier, posting a fifth-place finish in the 100 free. He cut 1.04 off his qualifying time and bettered his district time from last season by .40.

“We’ve trained all season for this meet,” said Price, “so to be moving on again is an honor.

“I’m excited to be representing my team and my school. I can’t wait to get up on the block (at states) and hear the crowd behind me. It’s been my motivation to get that back again, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Prior finished the 100 back with a 52.77, touching behind only Calvary Christian’s Owen Robinson with a record time of 51.67.

“My goal was to get the gold, being under the impression that I’d be swimming the same people as last year,” said Prior, who also won silver last season. “But I can’t be disappointed dropping two seconds (from his qualifying time) and coming close to the record.”

That’s a mark he’ll have his eye on next season.

“The district record,” he said. “That’s just what I’m coming back for next year.”

Owen J. Roberts capped the meet with an eighth place medal in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:14.73. The Wildcats’ relay, led off by Colin Bauer, also included Alec Schneider, Ryan Bowker and was anchored by Simon Crew. The contingent cut nearly five seconds off its qualifying time.

Upper Perkiomen capped the meet with its third fifth-place medal, posting a 3:31.88 in the 400 free relay and cutting a shade under 15 seconds off their seed time. The Tribe included sophomores Cameron Junk and Dan Miller, freshman Kyle Kovalenko and was anchored by junior Kevin Himmelwright.

NOTES >> The district record which Basch came close to breaking was set by Saint Pius X ‘10 graduate John Hauser during his senior season with a 4:34.15. … Spring-Ford’s 400 free relay closed the meet with a 12-place finish. It included Eric Jordan, Carson Hilliard, Carson Huff and Noah Cancro. … Perkiomen Valley’s Luke Waite finished 21st in the 500 free.