Owen J. Roberts backs unbeaten status with 6 event wins at PAC Championships

KING OF PRUSSIA >> When a swimmer touches the wall first and wins a gold medal, the accomplishment is plain for all to see. But contributions to a relay team win, though sometimes less noticed, can be just as important to a team and just as satisfying for the athlete.

That was the case with Spring-Ford’s Patrick Baganski, who was just as happy with his split time for the Rams’ winning 200 freestyle relay team as he was with his individual win in the 50 free at the Pioneer Athletic Conference boys swimming championships Saturday morning at Upper Merion High School.

Baganski also helped his 200 medley relay team to a win, giving him three gold medals for the day. Teammate Blaise Sadowski won four golds, two in the relays and also in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. He and Logan Richards from Owen J. Roberts were the only two double individual winners. OJR junior Patrick Bowker knocked nearly three seconds off his previous best time for the year while winning the 100 backstroke, one of six event wins for the Wildcats, who won the team title. Spring-Ford finished first in the other five events.

Baganski won the 50 free in 21.50 seconds, three hundreths of a second faster than his best high school time and just two hundreths slower than his top club time.

“I’m happy with that,” he said. “My relay split (20.84) was the best relay split I’ve had.”

That came in the anchor leg of the 200 free relay and turned a dead heat with the Methacton team into a win by nearly a second.
There were no big secrets to his success.

“I think just a lot of training, working hard at practice,” he said. “And getting really hyped up for big meets like this.”

Sadowski won the 200 IM in 2:02.45 and set a personal best time of 1:01.05 while placing first in the 100 breast.

“I’m just focusing on my technique,” he said. “Thinking about my team, trying to win as many events as possible for the team, trying to do my best. I couldn’t have done it without my coaches and teammates, just awesome people all around.”

Bowker won the 100 back in a time of 55.95, easily beating his previous season best of 58.77 and ahead of teammate Nate Kulp – who came in with the highest seed time and finished second in 57.02, despite also setting a season-best mark.

“I ate a spoonful of peanut butter this morning,” Bowker said with a smile. “And stretching helped. I’m very happy. Practicing helps a lot, going every day, being pushed by my teammates to be better.”

His time qualifies him for the District 1 meet for the first time.

“My brother went before,” he said. “I thought it would be nice to do this.”

Richards won the 200 free in a season-best time of 1:43.46 and finished first in the 500 free in 4:38.26. Colin Davis also won a gold medal for OJR, with a 46.74 in the 100 free. So did Ethan Suessmuth, swimming a 53.26 in the 100 butterfly.

Dylan Dayrit was a part of both Spring-Ford relay wins, with Nate Reagan anchoring the 200 medley and Kyle Kruppa leading off the 200 free. The team of Davis, Eskander Bierman, Suessmuth and Richards won for the Wildcats in the 400 free relay, the last event of the day.
Roberts, which won the official PAC title by going 10-0 in dual meets, scored 512.5 points. Spring-Ford was second with 399 and Methacton third with 309.

Next is the District 1 meet in two weeks at the York County YMCA.

“I’ll keep training hard getting ready for districts, stay motivated,” said Sadowski. “It’s a big deal.“

“We’ll probably have a couple hard practices,” added Baganski. “Then taper for districts so we’re not tired or sore.”

PAC Swimming Championships

Top Three Results

200 medley relay: 1. Spring-Ford (Patrick Baganski, Blaise Sadowski, Dylan Dayrit, Nate Reagan), 1:37.93; 2. Owen J. Roberts (Nate Kulp, Ethan Suessmuth, Mark Flewelling, Eskander Bierman), 1:39.75; 3. Perkiomen Valley (Griffin Crothers, Evan Croy, Andrew Keenan, Eric Schilling), 1:42.87
200 freestyle: 1. Logan Richards, Owen J.Roberts, 1:43.46; 2. Christopher Groff, Methacton, 1:46.86; 3. Christian Lebold, Methacton, 1:48.11
200 individual medley: 1. Blaise Sadowski, Spring-Ford, 2:02.45; 2. Mark Flewelling, Owen J. Roberts, 2:03.79; 3. Cameron Wilson, Spring-Ford, 2:07.07
50 freestyle: Patrick Baganski, Spring-Ford, 21.50; 2. Eskander Bierman, Owen J. Roberts, 21.89; 3. Dylan Dayrit, Spring-Ford,
100 butterfly: 1. Ethan Suessmuth, Owen J.Roberts, 53.26; 2. Henry Phillips, Pope John Paul II, 54.42; 3. Mark Flewelling. Owen J. Roberts, 54.45
200 freestyle relay: 1. Spring-Ford (Kyle Kruppa, Blaise Sadowski, Dylan Dayrit, Patrick Baganski), 1:29.06; 2. Methacton (Christopher Groff, Eric Zang, John Du, Christian Lebold), 1:30.02; 3. Upper Merion (Luke Andraka, Ben Gordan, Logan Hardel, J.R. Hermann), 1:33.96
100 freestyle: 1. Colin Davis, Owen J. Roberts, 46.74; 2. Nate Reagan, Spring-Ford, 48.93; T-3. Nick Darragh, Phoenixville, 49.20; T-3. Eskander Bierman, Owen J. Roberts, 49.20
500 freestyle: 1. Logan Richards, Owen J. Roberts, 4:38.26; 2. Christian Lebold, Methacton, 4:52.02; 3. Harry Tye, Boyertown, 4:55.95
100 backstroke: 1. Patrick Bowker, Owen J. Roberts, 55.95; 2. Nate Kulp. Owen J. Roberts, 57.02; 3. Henry Phillips, Pope John Paul II, 57.21
100 breaststroke: 1. Blaise Sadowski, Spring-Ford, 1:01.05; 2. Ethan Suessmuth, Owen J. Roberts, 1:02.92; 3. Harry Tye, Boyertown, 1:03.37
400 freestyle relay: 1. Owen J. Roberts (Colin Davis, Eskander Bierman, Ethan Suessmuth, Logan Richards), 3:13.80; 2. Spring-Ford (Patrick Baganski, Nate Reagan, Dylan Dayrit, Kyle Kruppa), 3:16.34; 3. Methacton (Christopher Groff, Eric Zang, Jake Kallal, Christian Lebold), 3:19.08
Team Standings
1. Owen J. Roberts 512.5; 2.Spring-Ford 399; 3. Methacton 309; 4. Phoenixville 236.5; 5. Perkiomen Valley 207; 6. Upper Merion 200; 7. Upper Perkiomen 102; 8. Boyertown 76; 9. Pope John Paul II 69; 10. Pottsgrove 45; 11. Norristown 12