Souderton storms past Pennridge in dual-meet action
EAST ROCKHILL >> They were confident it was within their reach.
“We saw that and we were like ‘we can definitely get that,’” Souderton Area’s Storm Krader said of the Pennridge pool record in the 200-yard freestyle relay. “We feel really good.
“We’re really beat up right now,” Krader said, “but we’re practicing hard and we’re still swimming good times.”
The foursome of Reid Sinkinson, T.J. Yaglenski, Krader and Cristian Musterait powered their way to a pool-record time of 1 minute, 29.73 seconds, part of an impressive performance by both the Big Red boys and girls teams in double dual-meet wins over rival Pennridge Friday night.
“I knew they had a good backstroker,” Krader said of the Rams, “so I was kinda hyped to swim against him.”
Both Krader and Pennridge’s Nicolas Bland broke a minute in the back, with Krader surging to a winning time of 56.81, and Bland swimming strong with a 57.75.
Krader had the first swim of the night for the Big Red boys, leading off the winning 200 medley relay, and he also touched first in the 200 IM, the junior’s repertoire continuing to grow.
“(For districts) I’ll have to choose between the 100 fly, 200 free, 100 back and 200 IM,” he said of his postseason exploits.
As a sophomore last year, Krader made states in two relays and districts in a pair of individual events, gaining valuable experience.
Of what he learned most, Krader said with a smile: “Don’t get so nervous.”
Big Red calmly executed several solid swims on Friday night, with Musterait sprinting to victories in both the 50 free (21.94) and 100 free (47.78) and swimming on both the winning medley and record-setting 200 free relays.
Jake Kramer was also a double winner for Souderton, taking both the 200 free and 500 free.
Pennridge continues to inch closer to a district cut in the boys 200 free relay as well as the school record in the event.
“I think we’re poised for a really big Champs Meet,” coach Jacob Grant said of the SOL Continentals, “and hopefully we can get more kids to districts individually than we did last year.”
Morgan Scott was tops in both the 200 IM and 100 free as well as anchoring down the first-place 200 and 400 free relays. Anna Beno won the 200 free, diver Angelina Kain earned a winning score of 193 and Bland raced to a victory in the boys fly.
The Rams also got victories from Erin Shema (100 back) and Joe Ereifej (100 breast) as well as the boys 400 free relay, as Pennridge packed the house for Senior Night.
“It’s hard to say ‘goodbye’ to all this after four years,” said Hayden Sandt, one of the Rams’ four seniors and a member of that winning 400 free relay, “but it’s been great. I love this team.”
Top Photo: Storm Krader swims butterfly for Souderton in the boys 200 yard individual medley in the Indians’ dual meet against Pennridge on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (Bob Raines/Digital First Media)
