Record-setting day for Souderton in wins over Pennridge
EAST ROCKHILL >> For some extra motivation, Souderton Area’s T.J. Yaglenski only had to look up.
“I saw the record before the race,” he said of his approach to the 100-yard backstroke. “I was a little tired — we had a pretty tough set yesterday but I kinda pushed through the pain, just trying to get that time.
“I pushed right through and I was able to get it.”
Yaglenski, pulling away from the field, set a Pennridge pool record in the back, touching in 53.65 seconds to help cap off Souderton Area’s 107-71 victory over the Rams in a Suburban One League Continental Conference battle on Tuesday.
The Big Red girls were equally impressive, pushing past Pennridge, 104-68.
“First one of the year,” Yaglenski said of his pool record, which added to his earlier victory in the 100 butterfly. “It was awesome. I was racing some friends out there so it was nice to have a good race against them and set the tone for the meet.
“We had a pretty good meet. Our team was a little beat up (from winter training/practices) but we fed off each other’s success and had a good meet.”
Yaglenski, outracing Pennridge’s Greg Bashaar for the top spot, was the only swimmer to break a minute in the back.
“A testament to him right now — they’re not really supposed to be doing times like that,” Big Red coach Lou Williams said of Yaglenski’s drive.
The Souderton boys (7-1, 4-0 conference) also got victories from Jake Kramer (200 free/100 free), Oliver Milles (diving), Kristian Stanczewski (500 free), as well as their 200 medley relay.
The Big Red girls (6-2, 4-0 conference), meanwhile, received first-place points from Abby Burns (200 free), Ellie Hiestand (200 IM), Hailey Freed (50 free), Ally Beldham (diving) and Ruchi Hegde (500 free), along with their 200 medley and 200 free relays.
Pennridge’s Reese Trauger had a strong meet, dropping a half second off her time in the 100 fly. She placed first in that event and also got her district cut (25.63) in the 50 free.
“It’s good for our kids to race fast kids. Is it always fun for them? No, but fortunately we like Souderton,” Rams coach Jacob Grant said of the two friendly rivals. “We sit with them at districts, sit with them at states. We love their coaches, love their kids.
“It was a good meet overall. We had some good swims. The kids have been swimming really hard all of January. So the fact that they’re still putting up some pretty good times, I’m pretty happy with that.”
Said Williams: “Sharing a border with Pennridge, we always like coming here. There are some kids that we swim against in the summer and have some families that swim here for club teams, and we love their coaching staff, so it’s always a fun meet for us.”
Both teams are nearing the stretch run of the regular season.
“Definitely looking forward to swimming fast,” Yaglenski said. “I’m feeling good. Training’s been great and coach (Lou) Williams has been awesome so I’m really looking forward to seeing what I can do at the end of the year.”
