Boyertown swims past Upper Perkiomen to reach 5-0
BOYERTOWN >> The Boyertown boys and girls swim teams both remained undefeated with Pioneer Athletic Conference wins over Upper Perkiomen Thursday afternoon at the Boyertown YMCA.
The Bear boys (5-0 PAC and overall) got two individual wins each from Nolan Benner and Owen Miller in a 94.5-61.5 win. Kevin Kovalenko won the 100-yard breaststroke for the Indians (2-3, 3-4).
In the girls meet, Angie Nelson and Katherine Kummerer each posted two wins in individual events as the Bears (5-0 PAC and overall) won, 100-70. Noel Fresa won twice for Upper Perk (3-2, 4-3).
Both teams are progressing well and where they want to be after their second meet following the holiday break.
“We’re in a good position,” said Bear coach Bill Draves. “Both boys and girls are 5-0. The girls, we expected it to be a close meet, and it was.”
Kummerer won the 50 freestyle and 500 freestyle races and Nelson took first place in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. Nelson has already posted a district-qualifying time, as have Gabbie McKee (winner for the Bears in the 200 freestyle), Benner (200 and 500 freestyle winner), Miller (100 freestyle and 100 backstroke winner), Justin Morris (200 individual medley winner for Boyertown) and the Bear 200 medley relay team.
Both Boyertown teams are doing well, despite having less swimmers than last year’s successful squads.
“I’m very happy,” said Draves. “We’re a significantly smaller team than last year. I’m happy with how the kids are coming around. We’re getting a lot of support from the local clubs, getting the training we like. I’ve got practices and they’re doing double with the club. I do want them to be connected with the club. We’re coming out of break a little tired, but they’re mentally stronger than last year.”
Upper Perk coach Brien Kalnoski was also pleased with Thursday’s meet and the season in general, despite also having a smaller team than last year that includes just nine boys and 12 girls.
“We had some good races today,” he said. “Noel Fresa in the girls 100 free, that was an excellent race for her. She needs some of those good races and she got it. Sean Lyman in the 200 free, that was his best time ever. That was excellent. In the 500 free, Trevor Cairns, that’s the second time he’s done that in two days, .25 seconds from the district cut time. And Kevin Kovalenko in the 100 breast, that was an excellent time.
“We don’t have the depth. I tried to match it up so we’d have some good races and we did.”
The Indians are trying to get ready for the post-season. Especially Fresa, who finished second in the PIAA Class 2A championships in the 100 freestyle and third in the 200 freestyle last year after winning gold medals in both events in the District 1 meet.
“They’re doing the times we expected them to do this time of the season,” said Kalnoski.
And Boyertown is preparing for a couple of big PAC meets coming up later in the month.
“Spring-Ford and perennially, Owen J. Roberts (are our biggest tests),” said Draves. “We’re going to work hard the next two weeks and get ready for those guys.”
