North Penn in command at SOL Colonial Championships

FRANCONIA >> In more ways than one, “good times” were hard to come by in a season of uncertainty.

But on Friday night, North Penn posted good times and had them as well, enjoying a solid evening of competition at the Suburban One League Colonial Championships.

“It means a lot,” senior Luke Engel said. “This season was hard and there were a lot of breaks. So it feels good to be getting everyone out here and getting good times.”

Engel finished first in the 500-yard freestyle, one of eight events the Knights would win at Souderton Area, to start the postseason in style.

North Penn, Pennridge and Souderton competed at Souderton, with Central Bucks South, West and East competing at South.

North Penn defended its division title in style.

“It’s a great way to start it off,” Engel said of the postseason. “I think we’re all feeling good and we’re ready to move onto next week.”

The Knights have a pair of meets this coming week before getting ready for the District One Diving Championships Friday and Saturday (girls) at North Penn. The District One Swim Championships will be held at the Graham Aquatic Center in York this year, on Feb. 26th (girls) and 27th.

“The boys team did have a pretty good meet today,” North Penn coach Jeff Faikish said as the teams started to head out of the Souderton pool and head to the buses. “And they had a pretty good meet last week against Wissahickon. The boys team is strong and they definitely are a motivated group.”

Freshman Mason Potts had the top time in the 200 free, touching in 1 minute, 45.03 seconds. Ryan Faikish was fastest in the 50 free in 21.84 and Robert Freece was best in the 100 fly in 52.88.

Nick Clark (100 free, 47.75), Engel (500 free, 4:50.36) and Scott Klein (100 back, 53.59) all were tops in their events.

In addition, North Penn’s 200 free relay (Potts, Matt Harkrader, Engel, Clark) was the fastest foursome, in 1:27.31. The Knights capped the meet by going fastest in the 400 free relay, a team of Max Bachman, Robert Freece, Potts and Clark touching in 3:11.60.

Engel had something extra in the 500.

Said the senior of the event: “It’s the 500 so it’s not that fun. But I always felt better in distance than in sprint so it was a good event for me.

“I felt really good in my 500. It was my best time and I didn’t expect that. But we’ll take it.”

Pennridge began the meet by winning the 200 medley relay, a foursome of Greg Bashaar, Joseph Hong, Brett Musselman and Julian Arteaga combining their efforts for a 1:38.86.

Hong had himself a meet, going on to win both the 200 IM for the Rams, posting a 1:57.22, and the 100 breast, with a 58.83.

Despite various types of adversity this winter, the postseason was underway.

North Penn wanted to go fast and was dressed for the occasion.

“It’s great to see everyone go out there and drop fast times. We haven’t had that many opportunities so we even put on our tech suits for a league meet,” said Harkrader, who also swam a 54.81 in the 100 back, forming a one-two finish with Klein. “And everyone starts swimming well and that’s what you love to see.

“We haven’t had that many meets this year, so any chance you have to swim fast, you take it. You love to see that as a senior. I love seeing it for my team.”

Suburban One League Colonial Division Championships
(North Penn, Pennridge, Souderton Area at Souderton Area High School;
Central Bucks South, West and East at South)
200 medley relay: Pennridge (Greg Bashaar, Joseph Hong, Brett Musselman, Julian Arteaga), 1:38.86
200 free: Mason Potts (NP) 1:45.03
200 IM: Joseph Hong (P) 1:57.22
50 free: Marcus Papanikolaou (CBE) 21.27
100 fly: Robert Freece (NP) 52.88
200 free relay: North Penn (Potts, Matt Harkrader, Engel, Nick Clark), 1:27.31
100 free: Clark (NP) 47.75
500 free: Luke Engel (NP) 4:50.36
100 back: Scott Klein (NP) 53.59
100 breast: Joseph Hong (P) 58.83
400 free relay: North Penn (Max Bachman, Freece, Potts, Clark), 3:11.60