Methacton’s Sykes, Phoenixville’s Cooke medal at PIAA-AAA Championships

Flashback nearly two weeks ago.

Methacton’s Emily Sykes ended her weekend at districts on a high note, capturing a silver medal while also helping send her 400 free relay to the PIAA-AAA Championships.

On Wednesday, Sykes kept that momentum rolling through the opening day of the state championships at Bucknell University.

The junior captured her first career state medal with a personal-best 2:03.86 to take fourth in the 200 individual medley.

Phoenixville junior Maddie Cooke also earned a medal, placing sixth in the 50 free with a time of 23.60.

Entering the meet seeded ninth in the event, Sykes cut nearly a second and a half off her qualifying time.

“It’s actually kind of a relief,” said Sykes afterward. “During my freshman and sophomore seasons, I would get close, but couldn’t get into the A-finals. So to get there and have a fourth-place medal to show for it this time … it’s really special.”

Having competed at states the previous two years, Sykes had advanced from the preliminary round to the consolation final six times. Though an impressive task for an underclassman to be able to swim at that level at an early start, Sykes was never quite satisfied.

On Wednesday, that all changed.

“My breaststroke is definitely where I always gain the most ground,” she said of the 200 IM. “So it was a matter of keeping it tight until then, and then bringing it home on the free and giving it all that I have.”

Sykes will now shift her focus to the 100 breast ­— where she is seeded fourth — and the aforementioned 400 free relay on Wednesday where the Warriors are seeded at No. 16.

Cooke’s sixth-place finish in the 50 free came a season after she tied for the bronze with North Allegheny’s Jacquelyn Du. This time, there’s something memorable about not having to share a spot on the podium.

“Considering everything I’ve gone through the past couple of weeks, I’d say I’m happy with my time,” she said. “It’s been a tough road getting here, so I’m really proud to say I pulled through.”

Cooke had battled a stomach virus in the days leading up to districts, which landed her in the hospital. Unable to do her usual training in the time leading up to districts, being able to compete at states created an extra source of pride.

“At one point, I was worried I might not even be able to get through it and swim at districts,” she said. “Every year brings a new challenge, and I’d say this was my hardest challenge.”

Cooke cut 0.45 off her qualifying time in earning her second career state medal. She also anchored the Phantoms’ 200 free relay (1:38.51), which finished 14th in the consolation final. It also included Kathryn Bland, Katya Hayward and Emily Fabius.

Now Cooke will shift her focus to the 100 breast where she is seeded sixth with a qualifying time of 1:03.97.

“I spent a lot of time in the cool-down pool working on my breaststroke,” she said, “and it felt really good. So I’m hoping it will stay that way (on day two).”

At the conclusion of opening day, North Penn currently leads the way with 124 team points. Owen J. Roberts and Phoenixville are tied for 20th with 19 team points while Methacton sits tied for 25th with 15 points.

Owen J. Roberts’ juniors Morgan Hansen and Laurel Fink were both part of the Wildcats’ 200 medley relay which placed 12th (1:48.09) in the consolation final. Sophomores Madison Gadzicki and Morgan Aicher were also part of the contingent, which cut 0.90 off its qualifying time.

Individually, Hansen placed 11th in the 100 fly with a time of 56.40 bettering her qualifying time by nearly half a second. Fink finished 14th in the 200 free, touching the wall at 1:54.15.

Methacton’s Victoria Zang finished 29th in the 200 free, which couldn’t get her out of the morning preliminary round. Entering the meet seeded 28th, the freshman posted a 1:58.65. Though her individual event came to an end early, she’ll have to make a quick turnaround as the Warriors are seeded at 16th in the 400 free relay to close out the PIAA-AAA Championships Friday.

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On the boys side, no PAC-10 swimmers made it out of the morning preliminary round.

Boyertown junior Patrick Lance placed 23rd in the 200 free (1:45.04) and immediately followed it with another 23rd-place finish the 100 fly (52.39). Although he didn’t qualify for the top 16, he admits another season that ends at Bucknell always provides a spark that he’ll cherish.

“It’s a privilege to be here and represent some of Pennsylvania’s fastest swimmers,” he said. “It takes a lot to be here. Every year it’s going to take that much more.”

Lance’s time in the 100 fly was .07 better than what he posted at states last season. He hopes that’s a trend that continues as he already looks toward his senior season.

“I wish I could have done better but I’m happy with it,” said Lance of his time in the 100 fly. “I’m hoping to try and make it memorable and really shoot for finals.”

Owen J. Roberts senior Colin Bauer took 23rd in the 50 free (21.90) and 29th in the 100 fly (53.62). He also anchored the Wildcats’ 23rd-place 200 free, which finished up at 1:30.71. The contingent included fellow senior Alec Schneider and sophomores Simon Crew and Logan Baker.

On tap for the closing day of the AA Championships, Methacton’s Gil Price is seeded at No. 20 in the 100 free while teammate Austin D’Angelo is seeded 29th in the 100 breast.

For the girls, Spring-Ford’s Rebecca Cubbler is seeded 19th in the 500 free, followed by Boyertown’s Cara Megill at No. 20 and Lebold at No. 21.