PJP’s Phillips wins gold, PV’s Replogle brings home silver at District 1 championships

PHILADELPHIA >> Winning a District 1 title is a dream come true for any swimmer.

But it’s especially exciting when that swimmer is a freshman.

So it was for Henry Phillips of Pope John Paul II. The ninth grader cruised to victory in the 500-yard freestyle at the District One Class 2A competition, which concluded at LaSalle’s Kirk Pool on Friday.

Phillips posted a time of 4:54.17 to outpace runner-up Ryan Park of Lower Moreland by just under six seconds (5:00.11).

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

“It was really cool,” Phillips said of his win. “I just went into it figuring I’d give it 100 percent and see what happened.

“I just went out and swam my own race and didn’t think about anything else and that worked for me. I just swam until I finished the race. It was really great looking at the wall and seeing the ‘1’ next to my lane number.”

He finished third in the 200 freestyle on Thursday.

“That was a really good warmup,” he said. “The atmosphere here is crazy. It’s really fun to be here and it’s really exciting to have the automatic to states. It’s awesome. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Teammate Josh Murtaugh finished seventh in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.75).

Sean Lyman of Upper Perkiomen finished sixth in the 500 freestyle (4:41.79).

Pope John Paul II finished sixth in team scoring with 60 points. Lower Moreland won the team competition (367).

Class 3A >> Jacob Replogle of Perkiomen Valley finished second in the 500 freestyle (4:38.84).

Nolan Benner finished fourth in the 100 freestyle (46.02) for Boyertown.

Owen Miller, Noah Vivian, Connor Stout and Benner teamed up to finish fifth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:13.01) for the Bears.

Boyertown finished seventh in team scoring (110). North Penn won the team competition (312).

Spring-Ford’s Luke McKenna took fourth in the 500 freestyle (4:40.90), Brendan Baganski was eighth in the 100 freestyle (47.25).

Spring-Ford ended the meet in 10th place in team scoring (81).

Dalton Fink of Owen J. Roberts touched fourth in the 100 backstroke (51.09).

He then led off the 400 freestyle relay for Will Cano, Nathan VanNatter and Jonah Kasznay. The quartet finished in fourth place (3:11.95).

Owen J. Roberts was eighth in team scoring (97).

Girls

Class 3A >> Mikayla Niness of Owen J. Roberts followed on her 50 freestyle title Thursday and finished fourth in the 100 freestyle (51.62). It was a hard-fought triumph for Niness, who had the flu twice and a concussion this season.

“I had a really rough season,” said Niness, a senior. “I’m pretty happy with what I’ve done so far and I couldn’t have done it without my team beside me. They made this season really special for me.

“I was very nervous about this meet with all the problems I had, but it went pretty well for me and I’m really happy with everything.”

“I’m hoping my time is good enough to get me to states. I know other districts have gone really fast, it’s so competitive, but I’m hoping for the best.”

She will continue her swim career at West Chester University.

Niness then led off the 400 freestyle relay for Lauren Zelinske, Eliana Crew and Abbey Malmstrom. The quartet finished fourth (3:30.92).

Owen J. Roberts finished fifth in team scoring with 126 points. North Penn won the team competition (299).

Boyertown’s Gabrielle McKee took fifth in the 500 freestyle (4:57.60).

Erini Pappas of Phoenixville finished seventh in the 100 backstroke (56.66).

Class 2A >> Noel Fresa of Upper Perkiomen took the silver medal in the 100 freestyle (52.99). Teammate Darragh Martin finished third in the 100 backstroke (1:01.83).

Devon Romanowski, Kayman Hunter, Martin and Fresa teamed up to take fourth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:43.21).

Pottsgrove’s Molly Krock was fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.14).

Upper Perkiomen finished fifth in team scoring with 186 points. Villa Maria won the team competition (371).