Upper Merion fast off the blocks in wins over Pottsgrove
UPPER MERION >> The Upper Merion seniors have their eyes and minds set on team records this year and are putting in the work to keep propelling towards them.
Emily Burke moved several strokes closer on Thursday, as she and the Vikings continued their stellar start to the season.
The Upper Merion girls were 92-72 winners over Pottsgrove and the Upper Merion boys prevailed 83-42 over the Falcons in the Pioneer Athletic Conference clash. Both Viking squads raised their records to 2-0, and unlike last year, they did it together.
The boys and girls teams were split up a season ago due to the pandemic.
“I’m excited having normal meets back this year,” Burke said. “I’ve been swimming since September with my club team so I’ve been in the pool, which is nice, so these first couple meets haven’t been too crazy or difficult. It’s just exciting that we’re all back together.”
Burke, one of Upper Merion’s key seniors, dashed to victories in the 50-yard freestyle (26.10) and 100 butterfly (1:04.01). She was also pivotal to the success of the relays.
The 200 medley foursome of Abby Yuen, Lindsay Yuen, Burke and Kaitlyn Miller powered to a victory in 1:59.65 to get the meet started. The 400 free relay team, although it swam the final event as an exhibition, touched first with a team of Burke, Abby Yuen, Kaitlyn Miller and Lindsay Yuen.
Said Burke: “Abby is a sophomore and Lindsay’s sister, and she’s really stepping it up. I’m hopeful for this season with the relays.”
The Viking girls also received first-place swims from Miller in the 200 free, Lindsay Yuen in the 200 IM and Abby Yuen in the 500 free. Also, Ashley Evitts dove to a winning score of 272.55.
The cheering and the camaraderie was back on the deck, unlike a season ago.
“That was hard because the energy wasn’t the same,” Burke said. “So now that we’re back all together, it’s just exciting.”
The Upper Merion boys were also tough to beat at the home pool.
The 200 medley relay foursome of Kevin Roseland, Kyle Roseland, J.R. Herman and Jack Larkin raced to first to provide the early push. Larkin, Herman, Kevin Roseland and Luca Baicoianu later swam the 400 free as an exhibition, racing to first.
Kevin Roseland (200 IM), Bennett Liney (diving), J.R. Herman (100 fly/100 back exhibition), Baicoianu (100 free) and Larkin (500 free) were also tops in their respective events for the Vikes.
“Getting back into the swing of things, it’s nice to have more of a classic swim season instead of one of those COVID years,” Upper Merion girls coach Carson Bowes said. “This is kind of a last hurrah with a lot of the senior girls. We’re trying to rewrite some records and get as many girls to districts as we can. We’re trying to re-establish that district presence that we had a couple years ago.”
Upper Merion is also benefiting from more flexibility with its relays lineups. The Vikings want to finish things off in the old pool in style this year before opening up the new one next season.
Said Bowes: “I’ve actually swam in this pool since I was in first grade so there’s a lot of good memories with it, but we need a little more natural light in here, so we’re excited.”
Declan Keener had a nice meet for the Pottsgrove boys, winning both the 200 and 50 freestyles.
Kennedy Krock won the 100 free and 100 breast for the Pottsgrove girls and also joined Molly Krock, Bayley Richard and Dominique Parkinson to win the 200 free relay. Molly Krock went on to win the 100 breast for the Falcons.
