Competing against the best can raise one’s competitiveness to a higher level.

The Tamaqua swimmers tried making waves against the best in the Schuylkill League on Tuesday.

Blue Mountain - whose girls and boys are both unbeaten in league play - provided a huge challenge.

The Eagles swam to a pair of victories, but both Tamaqua teams turned in some strong individual performances to keep the meet competitive.

“We are definitely getting better - both our boys and girls,” said Tamaqua coach Jen Paisley. “What I’m looking at are our times. Every meet we are improving, which is our goal right now. We’re a young team, especially our girls.”

While youth may be the overall theme for the Raiders’ swimmers, when it comes to divers that’s a different story. The Tamaqua divers have some experience, and also plenty of talent.

The divers picked up a pair of first-place finishes against Blue Mountain as Vincenzo Valentine carded a solid 132.75 points to take the boys competition, while Mia Jones won the girls event with a 172.30 score

“We have to continue to get better with each meet, but I like how we are diving,” said Paisley. “We want to try and use some more dives – new dives – as we get ready for the postseason.”

In the pool, the Eagles (5-0) captured first place in seven of the eight individual events, along with two of the three relays. The top point producer for the winners was Noah Powers, with wins in the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly.

Jack Tharp had the only individual first for the Blue Raiders (3-2), capturing the 200 IM with a strong time of 2:37.44. Teammate Valentine was second in the event with a time of 2:46.55.

The Blue Raiders’ 200 medley relay team of Brandon Long, Stephen Behun, Tharp and Ethan DiBonafazio also had a first-place finish with a time of 1:59.59.

In the girls meet, Blue Mountain (5-0) used its experience and talent to stay undefeated.

The girls took all eight individual events, and swept the relays as well.

Blue Mountain’s Hannah Magdeburg scored wins in the 50 freestyle and the 100-butterfly.

Tamaqua (1-4) got second-place finishes from Jones in the 50 free and Gabby Blasko in the 100 breaststroke.

“We knew coming that this was going to be a really tough meet - both of Blue Mountain teams were very good,” Paisley said. “We wanted to record some fast times to improve our standings in the districts, and I thought we did that in several events.”

GIRLS

Blue Mountain 125, Tamaqua 60

200 Medley Relay - 1. Blue Mountain 1:57.14; 200 Freestyle - 1. Julia Crossen (BM) 2:16.82, 2. Andie Zeplin (BM), 3. Ashley Lake (BM); 200 IM - 1. Sage Kaplafka (BM) 2:31.62, 2. Mollie Sarnes (BM), 3. Savannah Wilson (T); 50 Freestyle - 1. Hannah Magdeburg (BM) 25.45, 2. Mia Jones (T), 3. Sarah Magdeburg (BM); Diving - 1. Mia Jones (T) 172.30, 2. Kamryn Moran (BM), 3. Shyanna White (BM); 100 Butterfly - 1. Hannah Magdeburg (BM) 1:02.56, 2. Paige Bensinger (BM), 3. Lexi Buchala (T); 100 Freestyle - 1. Victoria Ellex (BM) 56.91, 2. Mollie Sarnes (BM), 3. Sage Kaplafka (BM); 500 Freestyle - 1. Julia Crossen (BM) 6:04.16, 2. Andie Zeplin (BM), 3. Isabella Jones (T); 200 Freestyle Relay - 1. Blue Mountain 1:46.47; 100 Backstroke - 1. Victoria Ellex (BM) 1:07.85, 2. Ashley Lake (BM), 3. Andrea Betz (T); 100 Breaststroke - 1. Paige Bensinger (BM) 1:13.05, 2. Gabby Blasko (T), 3. Lily McNutt (T); 400 Freestyle Relay

- 1. Blue Mountain 4:21.21.

BOYS

Blue Mountain 105, Tamaqua 73

200 Medley Relay - 1. Tamaqua (Brandon Long, Stephen Behun, Jack Tharp, Ethan DiBonafazio) 1:59.59; 200 Freestyle - 1. Kyan Mitchell (BM) 2:03.35, 2. Jathan Krall (T), 3. Gabriel Kamarousky (BM); 200 IM - 1. Jack Tharp (T) 2:37.44, 2.Vincenzo Valentine (T), 3. Francesco Carr (BM); 50 Freestyle - 1. Noah Powers (BM) 21.94, 2. Stephen Behun (T), 3. Axton Kelly (BM); Diving - 1. Vincenzo Valentine (T) 132.75, 2. Axton Kelly (BM); 100 Butterfly - 1. Noah Powers (BM) 59.33, 2. Gabriel Kamarousky (BM), 3. Will Behun (T); 100 Freestyle - 1. Matheson Bair (BM) 50.68, 2. Kyan Mitchell (BM), 3. Stephen Behun (T); 500 Freestyle - 1. Liam Magdeburg (BM) 5:42.88, 2. Jathan Krall (T), 3. Van Caliendo (BM); 200 Freestyle Relay - 1. Blue Mountain 1:39.61; 100 Backstroke - 1. Matheson Bair (BM) 1:04.57, 2. Brandon Long (T), 3. Will Behun (T); 100 Breaststroke - 1. Christian Fisher (BM) 1:13.82, 2. Ethan DiBonafazio (T), 3. Francesco Carr (BM); 400 Freestyle Relay

- 1. Blue Mountain 3:43.24.