Pottsgrove’s Kevin Basch seeded first at PIAA-AA Championships

In his final appearance at the District 1-AA Championships at La Salle University this past weekend, Pottsgrove senior Kevin Basch admittedly left it all in the pool.

“I wanted to leave this meet with a bang,” he said afterward. “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.”

Basch posted a personal best and nearly record-breaking time of 4:35.22 in the 500 free, capturing the gold medal and earning an automatic bid to swim at the PIAA-AA Championships at Bucknell University later this month. In addition to the 500 free, he’s also seeded fourth in the 200 free, where he took silver at districts with a 1:44.02.

He’ll be joined by teammate Mike Prior, a respective gold and silver medalist in the 200 individual medley (2:00.28) and the 100 back (52.77). Basch will head to Lewisburg seeded fourth in the 200 free and seventh in the 100 back, while he and Prior will also swim as part of the 200 free relay, seeded No. 18.

In AAA action, Owen J. Roberts’ Colin Bauer will take on three events at the state championships. The senior is seeded No. 13 in the 100 fly (51.28) and No. 14 in the 50 free (21.49). He’ll also join the Wildcats’ 200 free relay, seeded 21st at 1:28.07.

Boyertown’s Patrick Lance enters the championship as the No. 22 seed in the 100 fly (51.81) and the No. 25 seed in the 200 free (1:44.54).

On the girls side, Methacton will partake in five events, highlighted by junior Emily Sykes.

Sykes, a silver medalist in the AAA 100 breast at districts, heads to Bucknell seeded fourth in the 100 breast and ninth in the 200 IM. She’ll be joined by senior Sarah Lebold, seeded at No. 21 in the 500 free and freshman Victoria Zang, the No. 28 seed in the 200 free. The Warriors’s 400 relay, which includes Sykes, Lebold, Zang and Anna Price, is seeded 16th in the 400 free relay after finishing eighth at districts.

Phoenixville junior Maddie Cooke is seeded sixth in the 100 breast (1:03.97) and 14th in the 50 free (24.05). She’ll also join her Phantom teammates in the 200 free relay, at No. 18.

Owen J. Roberts juniors Laurel Fink and Morgan Hansen will take part in two events at Bucknell. Fink, seeded 21st in the 200 free (1:54.32), finished 10th last season. Hansen, the No. 11 seed in the 100 fly, took seventh place to close it out last season. The pair will also take part in the Wildcats’ 200 medley relay, seeded at No. 20.

In AA action, Pottsgrove’s Emily Glinecke will look to up her results from the state championships last season, where she rode home with two silver medals dangling around her neck.

The senior is seeded fourth in the 100 breast and sixth in the 200 free after she captured a respective silver and bronze medal this past weekend.

GIRLS SWIMMING

Girls AA

200 free: Emily Glinecke (PG), No. 6, 1:52.72; Kirsten Siwy (UP), No. 17, 1:55.94.

100 free: Kirsten Siwy (UP), No. 29, 54.38.

100 breast: Emily Glinecke (PG), No. 4, 1:04.48.

Girls AAA

200 medley relay: Owen J. Roberts, No. 20, 1:48.99.

200 free: Laurel Fink (OJR), No. 21, 1:54.32; Victoria Zang (MET), No. 28, 1:55.39.

200 IM: Emily Sykes (MET), No. 9, 2:05.35; Morgan Hansen (OJR), No. 22, 2:09.24.

50 free: Maddie Cooke (PHX), No. 14, 24.05.

100 fly: Morgan Hansen (OJR), No. 11, 56.80.

500 free: Rebecca Cubbler, (SF), No. 19, 5:08.18; Cara Megill (BT), No. 20, 5:08.51; Sarah Lebold (MET), No. 21, 5:10.01.

200 free relay: Phoenixville, No. 18, 1:38.58.

100 breast: Emily Sykes (MET), No. 4, 1:03.73; Maddie Cooke (PHX), No. 6, 1:03.97.

400 free relay: Methacton, No. 16, 3:34.69.

BOYS SWIMMING

Boys AA

200 free: Kevin Basch (PG), No. 4, 1:44.02.

200 IM: Mike Prior (PG), No. 10, 2:00.28.

500 free: Kevin Basch (PG), No. 1, 4:35.22.

200 free relay: Pottsgrove, No. 18, 1:31.11.

100 back: Mike Prior (PG), No. 7, 52.77.

Boys AAA

200 free: Patrick Lance (BT), No. 25, 1:44.54.

50 free: Colin Bauer (OJR), No. 14, 21.49.

100 fly: Colin Bauer (OJR), No. 13, 51.28; Patrick Lance (BT), No. 22, 51.81.

100 free: Gil Price (MET), No. 20, 47.34.

200 free relay: Owen J. Roberts, No. 21, 1:28.07.

100 breast: Austin D’Angelo (MET), No. 29, 59.56.