Victory for Dominant Shady as He Triumphs in Heart-stopping Final Against Elite Opponents!
Mar. 15—LEWISBURG — Franklin Regional and Shady Side Academy went back and forth over the course of two hours Saturday evening to decide the PIAA Class 2A girls swimming team champion at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium. Each team captured medals.
Shady Side junior Ava Jochims was golden again in the 500-yard freestyle. With Shady Side holding a slim lead over FR, the teams' 400 free relays decided the winner. The Bulldogs' quartet of Jochims and freshmen Rachael Bummer, Ella Kiger and Elyse Brenenborg finished a close second (3 minutes, 31.
17 seconds) to District 1's Villa Maria Academy (3:31. 11), while Franklin Regional's team of senior Magdalena Hull, junior Phoebe Boswell, freshman Anna Tomasic and junior Scarlett Zolnak took third (3:32. 09).
When the relay points were distributed, a four-point lead grew to six (185-179), and Shady Side was the girls state champion for the first time in program history. Shady Side coach Erika Cooper took a celebratory plunge with her swimmers after receiving the team trophy. "It was a little cold, colder than I remember it being from 30 years ago when I last swam," she said.
"It was great to be able to do that. I coach summer club and USA club, and my high school team has been bugging me to get in the water. I said they have to win something before I get in, so this is pretty special.
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