It came down to the “power point system.”
That was left to determine the District 1-3A Championship Meet’s Most Outstanding Swimmer: Nick Clark of North Penn or his teammate, Max Bachman.
Clark edged Bachman 289-272, both having had sensational meets.
The team champion was much easier to determine.
The Knights put forth an overwhelming performance at the York YMCA’s Graham Aquatic Center Saturday, racking up 340 points to top District 1-3A for the fifth straight year.
“To be part of that, I’m really proud,” Bachman said. “Coming in here when I was a freshman, to think I would be part of a district championship team all four of my years is pretty awesome.”
Conestoga earned Runner-Up honors, finishing with 247 points. Owen J. Roberts took third with 169 and Souderton Area had an outstanding meet, compiling 123 points. Rounding out the top 10 were Radnor (121), Central Bucks East (112), Council Rock North (101), Upper Merion (97), Springfield Delco (77) and West Chester Henderson (74).
“The kids swam great,” Knights coach Jeff Faikish said. “Right from the get-go.”
Faikish received a text earlier in the day from NP coaching great Rick Carroll that read: “so goes the medley, so goes the meet.”
Sure enough, the 200 medley relay foursome of Mason Potts, Aidan Faikish, Bobby Freece and Matt Harkrader raced to a silver medal in a fast heat.
“The guys had amazing splits,” coach Faikish said. “That gave the entire team a lot of motivation. They took charge.”
Clark was best in the 200 IM and later in the 100 breast.
Bound for Brown next year, he made his final district meet a one to remember.
“This was an amazing team. This season was so tough, with the shutdowns and about half the practice time,” Clark said. “To come here and win the district title means a lot. It’s a really good feeling on the bus right now.”
Clark also led off the winning 200 free relay, followed by Harkrader, Potts and Jaden Manning.
Through just about every event, the Knights set themselves up rather nicely for states.
“So excited for states,” Clark said, “especially with it being my last run.”
Bachman raced to the gold in both the 200 free and 100 free.
He heads to West Chester University next year, having made his final district meet a classic.
Clark and Bachman had such stellar performances that both were considered for the meet’s most outstanding.
“I was really, really happy for Nick, my teammate, and to be able to share that moment with him was pretty special,” Bachman said. “We’ve been swimming together for so long so it was pretty poetic.”
The Knights capped things off with a victory in the 400 free relay, as a foursome of Bachman, Aidan Faikish, Freece and Clark touched in 3:07.53.
“They swam out of their minds,” coach Faikish said.
