Owen J. Roberts’ Niness, Upper Perk’s Fresa win gold on Day 1 of District 1 championships

PHILADELPHIA >> Noel Fresa got the job done.

The Upper Perkiomen senior successfully defended her Class 2A crown in the 200-yard freestyle on Thursday at the District 1 swimming championships, posting a time of 1:53.75 at LaSalle University’s Kirk Pool.

Owen J. Roberts senior Mikayla Niness gave the area two district champions on the first day of competition, emerging victorious in the Class 3A 50 freestyle event (23.34).

Only event winners in swimming receive automatic berths at the PIAA championships, slated for March 11-14 at Bucknell University. Other swimmers may receive at-large berths based on statewide time comparisons.

“It’s exciting,” Fresa said. “I won it last year so it was a little less exciting this time but it’s still really nice. It’s great to get that automatic to states. I didn’t taper for this so it was nice to get that. This is the worst of the two events I’m swimming. I’m better in the 100 free. It’s a big relief to make it in one. That takes the pressure off the other one.

“Now I’m looking forward to the 100 free. I love swimming here. It’s such a great environment and you get such fast times at this pool. Winning this last year did give me confidence because it was pretty much the same competition, so I felt good about my chances.”

Mikayla Niness is a DISTRICT CHAMPION in the 50 Free!!! @AthleticsOjr @OJRSD pic.twitter.com/8F9OgXnr9M

— OJRswimdive (@ojrswimdive) February 27, 2020

 

Upper Perk’s Devin Romanowski took sixth in the 50 freestyle (26.03) and Darragh Martin finished seventh in the 200 individual medley (2:16.36) in Class 2A girls competition.

Fresa, Kayman Heater, Martin and Romanowski teamed up to finish third in the 200 freestyle relay (1:41.43) for the Indians. Upper Perkiomen is seventh in scoring among girls Class 2A teams with 101 points. Villa Maria leads the team competition (225).

Also in Class 2A girls action, Pottsgrove’s Alaina Christ, Jaelyn Kennedy, Molly Krock and Victoria Keener finished eighth in the 200 medley relay (2:04.59) while Kennedy, Krock, Dominique Parkinson and Keener were eighth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:53.11). Pottsgrove finished Day 1 ninth in team scoring (56).

Helped by Niness’ district championship win in the 50 free, the Owen J. Roberts girls are sixth in Class 3A team scoring after the first day of competition with 68 points. North Penn leads the competition (181).

Along with Niness, several other area girls finished high in their Class 3A events. Erini Pappas of Phoenixville finished sixth in the 100 butterfly (56.57), and Ashley Gotshalll took eighth in the 50 freestyle (24.29) for Spring-Ford.

In boys Class 3A action, Boyertown’s Justin Morris, Noah Vivian, Owen Miller and Nolan Benner finished second in the 200 medley relay (1:36.70). Miller was the Bears’ top individual winner, finishing fourth in the 100 butterfly (51.28). Boyertown is 10th in team scoring with 49 points. North Penn leads the competition (176).

Dalton Fink of Owen J. Roberts was the highest area boys finisher on the day. Fink took second in the 100 butterfly (50.12). He also teamed with Will Cano, Nathan VanNatter and Jonah Kasznay to take fourth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:26.82).The Wildcats are ninth in team scoring (52).

Also in the boys Class 3A field, Perkiomen Valey sophomore Jacob Replogle finished sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:43.35).

“I think I did all right,” Replogle said. “All that really matters is whether or not I make states. My time was all right. I would have liked it to have been a little bit faster, but it’s all right.

“I was here last year and it was pretty scary because I was a freshman. This year I was more comfortable so last year got all the jitters out. Now I’m looking forward to swimming the 500 (freestyle). I feel better about that event so hopefully today was like a warm-up and tomorrow I’ll have a better race.”

Spring-Ford’s Brendan Baganski, Sean Laing, Sam Ricci and Cory Laing combined to take eighth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:28.53). Baganski was also fourth in the 50 freestyle (21.39).

Upper Merion’s Michael Lemishko captured the bronze medal in the 100 butterfly (50.79). Also for Upper Merion, Andrew Hoy, Justin Wang, Lemishko and Cody Nguyen took eighth in the 200 medley relay (1:37.91).

In Boys Class AA , Pope John Paul II’s Henry Phillips took third in the 200 freestyle (1:49.22) and Josh Murtaugh was seventh in the 200 individual medley (2:15.74).

Declan Keener of Pottsgrove was sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:54.05).

Pope John Paul II is sixth in team scoring (28), while Pottsgrove is seventh (13). Lower Moreland leads the team competition (207).

The meet concludes on Friday.