North Penn captures the SOL Colonial Division crown
TOWAMENCIN — For the North Penn boys swim team, the postseason arrived in the form of fast times and lifetime-best swims, providing an appetizing taste of what could lie ahead.
“The championship season starts with this meet,” said Knights junior Mason Potts. “We all suit up and do what we’ve been doing.
Added Potts: “Our ultimate goal is to win states. Hopefully we can. I have confidence in the amount of depth and the commitment the boys here have had the entire season. I think we can do it.”
The Knights began that postseason push with an impressive performance at the Rick Carroll Natatorium Saturday, as North Penn piled up 606 points to top an outstanding field comprised of Central Bucks West (380.5), Souderton Area (314.5), CB East (308), CB South (211) and Pennridge (130).
“I came up to the boys before the races started today and I said the medley relay sets the tone for the rest of the meet,” said Knights coach Jeff Faikish. “And the medley relay went out there and looked real strong. It was a very good first race.”
Potts led things off, followed by Nevin Shaw, Nathan Rawa and Macek Vandermolen for a gold-medal time of 1 minute, 34.10 seconds.
The Knights were on their way.
Potts went on to win the 200 IM (1:55.77), Shaw took the 100 breast (58.92), and the 200 and 400 free relays also pushed to the wall first as part of an amazing display for North Penn.
Potts pulled away in the IM, winning the event by over two seconds.
“That was my best time ever and I felt really good going out,” he said. “I applaud the other guys in the race and congratulate them and honor them for doing their best. Overall it was a good swim by everyone.”
Blaise Hofmann had quite an afternoon for the Bucks, winning both the 100 fly (52.0) and 100 back (52.42).
Nathan Kleppinger pushed to second in the 500 free for Souderton Area, finishing in 4:52.88. The Patriots’ Owen Lever outraced the field with a 4:51.04.
CB East was powered by Zachary LeMay, who won the 200 free (1:42.41), and Marcus Papanikolaou, best in both the 50 free (21.36) and 100 free (46.58).
North Penn maintained its rhythm throughout in large part to the relays.
The medley got things started and the 200 free team kept it going midway through, as a foursome of Jadyn Manning, Danny Dunigan, Vandermolen and Aidan Faikish surged to a first-place time of 1:28.10.
The 400 free relay team brought it home, as a team of Aidan Faikish, Vandermolen, Potts and Dunigan motored along to a winning time of 3:08.80.
Said coach Jeff Faikish: “It’s a fun way to end the meet. It was four guys coming together, putting together a solid relay – really good splits and a really good time for where we are right now.”
Next up is the District One Diving Championships at North Penn, beginning with the boys on Friday (5:30 p.m.) followed by the girls on Saturday (10:30 a.m.).
