Owen J. Roberts girls, Boyertown boys win PAC swimming titles
BOYERTOWN >> The Owen J. Roberts girls swim team clinched a fourth straight Pioneer Athletic Conference championship, and the Boyertown boys won their first since 2010 Thursday night at the Boyertown YMCA’s Blanche Reigner Boyer Natatorium.
The OJR girls (9-0) led from beginning to end on the way to a 95-67 win and will try to finish up an undefeated PAC season Tuesday against Pope John Paul II. Gabby McKee set a pool record in the 200-yard freestyle for the Bears (8-2).
The Boyertown boys (10-0) finished first in the final event – the 400-yard freestyle relay – to wrap up a close win over the Wildcats (8-2), 90-80. The Bears’ Owen Miller set a pool record in the 100-yard butterfly.
The OJR girls had graduated two key seniors, but depth was a key factor throughout the season as the Wildcats received important contributions from seven freshmen.
“It was a good lesson for the freshmen,” said Meredith Mutter, who was a part of the 200 medley relay team that opened the meet with a win and placed second in the 200 individual medley. “No matter what, you have to swim your heart out. The energy was electric. The girls came out really excited with our record.”
“We were ready, but we still have another meet coming up,” said Mikayla Niness, who won the 50 and 100 freestyle races and helped the Wildcats to first place in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays. “Boyertown’s a really competitive team for us. We worked really hard in practice. It was really great that we have seven freshmen coming in. They filled the gaps and even more.”
Izzy Moes, another member of then 200 medley relay team that gave the Wildcats a lead they never relinquished, also gave the freshmen credit.
“The freshmen increased the depth of the team,” she said. “The biggest meet of the season. It really hyped us up. We’ve been preparing for this meet.”
The Boyertown boys suffered from a lack of depth this season, but were able to complete a four-year climb to the top.
“It’s nice because we’ve been trying for this for four years and we’ve been that close every time,” said Miller, who set the 100 butterfly record with a time of 50.97 seconds, won the 200 freestyle and helped the Bears to 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay wins. “We got it. I don’t know how we got it. I think once we beat Spring-Ford (86-84 last Friday in a battle of unbeaten teams), we knew we could win this. I’m proud of Nolan (Benner) for taking a leadership role.”
“We’re one of the smallest teams in the PAC,” added Benner, who also played a role in the two relay wins, tied for first with OJR’s Dalton Fink in the 50 freestyle and won the 100 freestyle. “We didn’t think we’d be competing for the PAC. The freshmen and sophomores really stepped up. We put in the work and the young kids saw what you can do if you put in the work. And our success was basically because of our coaches.”
Justin Morris won the 100 backstroke for the Bears while the Wildcats had three individual winners – Jonah Kasznay in the 200 individual medley, Logan Richards in the 500 freestyle and Nathan VanNatter in the 100 breaststroke.
On the girls side, the Wildcats also got wins from Eliana Crew (200 individual medley), Abbey Malmstrom (500 freestyle) and Lauren Zelinske (100 backstroke).
For Boyertown, Angie Nelson won the 100 backstroke and McKee won the 100 butterfly in addition to her record-setting 1:55.48 performance in the 200 freestyle.
“We all have our own part,” said McKee. “My goal is to just try to do well and try my best to get a better seed time for districts.”
“The girls pulled together,” added Bear senior Hannah Shaner. “We came together as a team and did our best. I was more focused on getting the team together for the boys to win the PAC. That was really important.”
