Jennifer Paisley took a moment to appreciate the accomplishment, then quickly reset.

The Tamaqua swimming coach had plenty to be happy about after her boys’ and girls’ teams swept Schuylkill Haven on Wednesday.

But Paisley knows the work for both squads has only just begun.

“I’m really happy with the way the kids are progressing, because we’ve seen a lot of drop in times,” Paisley said. “Right now, we’re kind of focusing on districts, because it’s going to be really tough with only eight qualifiers in each event instead of 16.

“We’re kind of doing a bit of a taper this week to try to have the kids get their fastest time of the season to see if they can get in and take one of those spots.”

The Blue Raiders had no trouble finding their form against the Hurricanes.

Tamaqua’s boys posted a 100-47 victory, while the girls registered a 101-74 triumph.

Nathaniel Kovalchick (200 freestyle, 100 butterfly) and Ethan Amershek (200 IM, 100 freestyle) helped Tamaqua (7-2, 5-2) capture first place in seven of the eight individual events. The duo were also on the winning 400 freestyle relay team with Stephen Behun and Joey Lescavage. Behun also won the 100 breaststroke, while Lescavage posted a victory in the 500 freestyle.

“I’m just really happy with how we swam and how we were able to push through,” said Kovalchick. “Everyone’s just been working so hard, and it was awesome that we were finally able to get under 4:00 (in the 400 freestyle relay).”

“We had a lot of people get PRs today,” added Amershek. “Sean Wall got a new PR in the 50 free (28.96 to place third), and everybody just pulled through today for this meet and we were able to get the win.”

Jack Tharp also posted a win in the 50 freestyle, while the team of Brandon Long, Behun, Kovalchick and Wall posted a victory in the 200 medley relay.

In the girls’ meet, Gabby Blasko (500 free), Lexi Buchala (100 back) and Nicole Aguero-Ramirez (100 breaststroke) all had wins for the Raiders (6-3, 5-1).

Tamaqua used its depth to come out on top, taking second and third in four events to go along with one first and second and first and third finish, respectively.

The Raiders swept the top three spots in the 100 breaststroke, led by Aguero-Ramirez, Madelyn Jones and McKenna Ehrig.

Blasko, Buchala, Jones and Aguero-Ramirez combined to cap the event by winning the 400 freestyle relay.

“I guess our drive to do better (is what really helps us),” said Aguero-Ramirez. “We push each other, we cheer each other on and we just strive to do better every meet. Everything counts at this point.”

“It definitely keeps us going as a team, just pushing each other nonstop,” said Jones. “Today we swam next to each other, and it definitely pushed both of us to get better times in order to get closer to our goal at districts.”

Tamaqua has just three regular season meets left before the postseason begins.

“The kids are really stepping up to the challenge,” said Paisley. “They’re working hard at practice, they’re focused at meets and they know exactly what they need to do, and they’re doing their best.

“We’ll see how things come out at the end.”

SAVE THE DATE(S)

... The postseason begins with the District 11 Diving Championships at Emmaus on Saturday, Feb. 27. The District 11 Swimming Championships are set for Saturday, March 6, and Sunday, March 7 at Parkland.

PANTHER PRIDE

... Panther Valley’s Jacqui Kokinda and Emily Newton swam at the meet as independents. Kokinda posted the fastest time in the 100 butterfly (1:06.48) and the 100 backstroke (1:10.53), Newton had the best mark in the 100 freestyle (1:02.27) and the 100 breaststroke (1:13.50), though they did not score in the meet.

GIRLS

Tamaqua 101, Sch. Haven 74

200 Medley Relay - Schuylkill Haven (Olivia Lang, Nadia Zimmerman, Erika Zimmerman, Cali Stank) 2:11.16; 200 Freestyle - 1. Erika Zimmerman (SH) 2:05.02, 2. Lily McNutt (T), 3. Madelyn Jones (T); 200 IM - 1. Cali Stank (SH) 2:40.20, 2. Gabby Blasko (T), 3. Maura Walker (T); 50 Freestyle - 1. Olivia Lang (SH) 29.85, 2. Mia Jones (T), 3. Nadia Zimmerman (SH); Diving - 1. Olivia Lang (SH) 149.47, 2. Melissa Ellis (SH); 100 Butterfly - 1. Erika Zimmerman (SH) 1:09.16, 2. Lexia Buchala (T), 3. Maura Walker (T); 100 Freestyle - 1. Cali Stank (SH) 1:02.43, 2. Nicole Aguero-Ramirez (T), 3. Rylee Wenzel (T); 500 Freestyle - 1. Gabby Blasko (T) 6:22.95, 2. Lily McNutt (T), 3. Kyleigh Book (SH); 200 Freestyle Relay - Schuylkill Haven (Melissa Ellis, Olivia Lang, Cali Stank, Erika Zimmerman) 1:53.21; 100 Backstroke - 1. Lexi Buchala (T) 1:16.43, 2. Melissa Ellis (SH), 3. Megan Lavine (T); 100 Breaststroke - 1. Nicole Aguero-Ramirez (T) 1:19.12, 2. Madelyn Jones (T), 3. McKenna Ehrig (T); 400 Freestyle Relay

- Tamaqua (Gabby Blasko, Lexi Buchala, Madelyn Jones, Nicole Aguero-Ramirez) 4:33.45.

BOYS

Tamaqua 100, Sch. Haven 47

200 Medley Relay - Tamaqua (Brandon Long, Stephen Behun, Nathaniel Kovalchick, Sean Wall) 2:06.82; 200 Freestyle - 1. Nathaniel Kovalchick (T) 2:15.95, 2. Joshua Tuite (SH), 3. Brandon Long (T); 200 IM - 1. Ethan Amershek (T) 2:25.39, 2. Joey Lescavage (T), 3. Stephen Behun (T); 50 Freestyle - 1. Jack Tharp (T) 26.64, 2. Jacob Gilbert (SH), 3. Sean Wall (T); 100 Butterfly - 1. Nathaniel Kovalchick (T) 1:02.18, 2. Reese Felty (SH); 100 Freestyle - 1. Ethan Amershek (T) 57.58, 2. 2. Jack Tharp (T), 3. Sean Coyle (SH); 500 Freestyle - 1. Joey Lescavage (T) 6:18.41, 2. Joshua Tuite (SH); 200 Freestyle Relay - Schuylkill Haven (Reese Felty, Jacob Gilbert, Sean Coyle, Joshua Tuite) 1:48.20; 100 Backstroke - 1. Reese Felty (SH) 1:05.93, 2. Brandon Long (T), 3. Benjamin Hehn (T); 100 Breaststroke - 1. Stephen Behun (T) 1:21.40, 2. Aidan McKee (SH), 3. Jacob Gilbert (SH); 400 Freestyle Relay

- Tamaqua (Ethan Amershek, Stephen Behun, Nathaniel Kovalchick, Joey Lescavage) 3:58.58.