DLN Boys Swimming All-Area: Conestoga’s McKenrick repeats as swimmer of the year

While the haul of medals for Chester County wasn’t plentiful at the PIAA Class AAA Swimming and Diving Championships, one person did come back from Bucknell with some extra jewelry. Conestoga’s Brian McKenrick came back with three third-place medals to cap his outstanding season and earn him a repeat as Daily Local News All-Area Boys Swimmer of the Year.

“It’s a great honor to repeat,” he said.

McKenrick came off having a successful Central League meet by winning the 100 backstroke and the 200 IM at the District 1 Class AAA meet at La Salle University.

First up came the 200 IM, that McKenrick admitted he made a tactical miscue.

“The goal was to win but I went out a little bit faster than I wanted too,” McKenrick said.

McKenrick came back in the 200 freestyle, and again swam to a third-place finish.

On the final night for Class AAA boys, McKenrick found himself in a loaded 100 backstroke final.

“I was expecting James Liu (of Upper St. Clair) to go out fast, but he didn’t go out as fast as I thought,” he said.

McKenrick was third behind James Wilson of Conestoga Valley and Liu.

“I matched my best time in the 100 back, so that was okay,” he added.

The speed that McKenrick found was amplified by the fact that he didn’t shave or taper for the meet, saving that for later in the year when he swims for his club team.

McKenrick has become somewhat of a tactician, breaking down his strokes and studying it with a mathmatician’s precision. He feels that it’s a product of his physical stature.

“I’m not 6-6. I’m a 5-10 Asian kid,” he said. “I’m not quite as strong as some others, so I concentrate on being underwater as long as I can.”

That focus is what his coach Mark Tirone feels is separating McKenrick from the rest of the field.

“He’s a little bit more focused,” Tirone said. “He pays attention to detail. He pays attention to his kicks and he works hard trying to get better.”

McKenrick was also stellar for the Pioneers during the dual-meet season, but that also affords McKenrick to work on different things in a competitive environment.

Led also by seniors Kevin Jay and Kein Ryle, Conestoga was also strong in the relays with McKenrick being a key contributor.

“We had a strong bond,” McKenrick said of his teammates.

The Pioneers will be strong again next year. McKenrick will lead the way, but the emergence this season of freshman Brendan Burns will also give hope that they will come back from Bucknell with gold medals in their pockets.

Tirone has a simple answer to being asked of his expectations of McKenrick for next year.

“I think he will get faster,” Tirone said.