Phoenixville’s Kenzie Padilla seems to always have a bright smile.
It was for good reason Friday at Bucknell University when the Phantoms junior swam to a third-place finish and a bronze medal in the 100 butterfly at the PIAA Class 3A Swimming and Diving Championships.
Padilla was third in prelims and backed it up in the finals with her 55.08. Only Hatboro-Horsham sophomore Annie Jia, a three-event winner Friday, and Fox Chapel senior Sophie Shao were faster.
Spring-Ford senior Ashley Gutshall repeated as a medalist in the 50 freestyle when she placed seventh (23.68) Friday. She was eighth in a year ago. PIAA record holder Alexa Fulton of Downingtown East repeated as champ (22.68).
Methacton junior Madison Wimmer made the A final in the 200 freestyle and placed eighth (1:52.93).
The Spring-Ford medley relay at senior Maris Sadowski, junior Sydney Koehler and sophomore Abby Koehler and Gutshall made the A final and placed seventh (1:47.51).
The Owen J. Roberts’ foursome of Mackenzie Gorman, Eliana Crew, Natalie Spencer and Kaitlyn McGuire were 14th (1:49.29).
Those same relay teams also competed in the 200 free relay with OJR’s group taking 13th and Spring-Ford in 15th.
In the 200 IM, it was a 1-2 family finish for Hatboro-Horsham with sisters Annie Jia and Kathy Jia. Sophomore Annie Jia won in 2:00.42. They also teamed on the winning 200 free relay.
In boys’ 3A competition, Owen J. Roberts’ 200 freestyle relay team of Colin Davis, Eskander Bierman, Ethan Suessmuth and Logan Richards earned a podium finish by placing fourth (1:25.47).
Owen J. Roberts senior Richards placed 10th in the 200 freestyle in 1:41.78.
Spring-Ford’s Patrick Baganski made the B final of the 50 free and placed 14th in 21.45.
Methacton’s relay of Christopher Groff, Christian Lebold, John Du and Eric Zang took 13th in the 200 medley relay.
