The start was upbeat for Tamaqua in its swimming showdown with Blue Mountain on Tuesday.

These two elite programs went head-to-head for the Schuylkill League Division I title.

The visiting Eagles came in flying, undefeated at 10-0, while the Blue Raiders stood at 9-1.

Though this was the second meeting, Tamaqua felt confident the way it reeled in a quick eight points in the first event, the 200-yard medley relay.

The team of Kate Behun, Savanah Wilson, Audrey Nattress and Ava Jones hit the wall in a time of 2:01.93, nearly three seconds faster than the Eagles. It also was the team’s best time of the season.

However, that early start just didn’t stay the course. Blue Mountain, with its horde of versatile swimmers, held sway en route to a 106-77 decision, which marked the second time the Eagles topped Tamaqua, the first coming back on Dec. 19 by a 118-65 margin.

Blue Mountain also won the boys competition, posting a 109-55 victory. The double wins assured both a divisional championship and 11-0 records.

The Eagles’ Noah Powers set a Tamaqua pool record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 52.36, easily beating second-place teammate Zach Scala, who was timed in 1:08.24. The previous record was also held by a Blue Mountain swimmer, Mark Barron, set back in 2017.

Good Start

Jen Pasiley, the architect of the Tamaqua swim program, found the early relay victory by the girls to be a boost.

“What really hurt us is that we don’t have any divers,” Paisley offered, as the Raiders’ Vincenzo Valentine was the lone diver in the event for both sides.

Tamaqua also copped a victory in the girls’ 400-yard freestyle relay with the team of Jones, Janna Brown, Behun and Lyla Clemson clocking in with a time of 4:34.85, a whopping 14 seconds better time than the Eagles.

Paisley made a strong point: Her team ceded 13 points in the diving competition.

“The girls were ready to race from the start. That first place in the medley relay really boosted our spirits, our confidence,” said Paisley.

The Eagles started to take control, and the team finished first in the 200 freestyle with both Julia Crossen (2:13.36) and Isabella Lafko garnering points. In the 100 freestyle, both Sage Kaplafka and Lola Machmer were 1-2 in the event. Machmer added a first in the 50 freestyle, too. Crossen was a winner in the 500 freestyle, as her team added a total of seven first-place finishes.

Wilson, who swam a leg in the opening relay win, had an outstanding time in the 200-yard IM, as she buried her competition in a time of 2:27.765, nearly eight seconds better than second-place Blue Mountain’s Alayna Hensel. Hensel did earn a win in the 100 butterfly.

Tamaqua’s Behun had a strong afternoon, as in addition to being part of the victorious relay team, she added key points with second-place finishes in both the 500-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke.

“Our girls have had some good times, and they’ve improved all season,” Paisley offered. “Right now, we’re focusing on the districts. We will be working on (improving) our times from here on in. I know we have the leagues coming up, but we are looking very hard at districts. Our times are very good looking at the other teams.”

Paisley feels very good about the girls looking down the road.

“If they perform to their potential, they’ll do very well in districts,” she said. “We do have some work to do, so we will continue to train hard.”

Blue Mountain Sweep

Blue Mountain’s powerful boys team overwhelmed Tamaqua, as it scored wins in both relay events, the 200 and 400 medleys.

Gabe Kamarousky was at the forefront for his team, as he was the first swimmer out of the blocks in the 200 relay. He also captured two other first-place finishes, as the Eagles’ strong sophomore swimmer won the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:18.96, and the 100-yard freestyle in 53:86.

“Our boys are very young and still learning.” Paisley offered. “It’s about fundamentals. Once they improve in that area, they’ll improve.”

Valentine took the diving competition for the Blue Raiders with a score of 146.55.

Tamaqua’s Brandon Temarantz and Billy Coombe finished second and third, respectively, in the 500 freestyle. The former finished third in the 200 event. Jacob Hehn came in third in the 50 freestyle.

ON THE HORIZON ... The Schuylkill League diving competition will be held at North Schuylkill Friday, Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. The league swim meet will take place at Pottsville on Saturday, Feb. 15, and begin at 10 a.m.

GIRLS

Blue Mountain 106, Tamaqua 77

200 Medley Relay - 1. Tamaqua (Kate Behun, Savannah Wilson, Audrey Nattress, Ava Jones) 2:01.93; 200 Freestyle - 1. Julia Crossen (BM) 2:13.26, 2. Isabella Lafko (BM), 3. Isabella Jones (T); 200 IM - 1. Savannah Wilson (T) 2:23.75, 2. Alayna Hensel (BM), 3. Molly Stone (BM); 50 Freestyle - 1. Lola Machamer (BM) 27.74, 2. Janna Brown (T), 3. Ella Crossen (BM); Diving - 1. Hailey Scheuer (BM) 177.60, 2. Shyanna White (BM), 3. Analiese Oettl (BM); 100 Butterfly - 1. Alayna Hensel (BM) 1:09.24, 2. Audrey Nattress (T), 3. Arpita Mishra (BM); 100 Freestyle - 1. Sage Kaplafka (BM) 57.58, 2. Lola Machamer (BM), 3. Janna Brown (T); 500 Freestyle - 1. Julia Crossen (BM) 6:00.31, 2. Kate Behun (T), 3. Kaitlyn Zulli (BM); 200 Freestyle Relay - 1. Blue Mountain (Alayna Hensel, Julia Crossen, Isabella Lafko, Sage Kaplafka) 1:49.32; 100 Backstroke - 1. Sage Kaplafka (BM) 1:07.43, 2. Kate Behun (T), 3. Audrey Nattress (T); 100 Breaststroke - 1. Savannah Wilson (T) 1:11.70, 2. Andrea Betz (T), 3. Molly Stone (BM); 400 Freestyle Relay - 1. Tamaqua (Isabella Jones, Janna Brown, Kate Behun, Lyla Clemson) 4:34.85.

BOYS

Blue Mountain 109, Tamaqua 55

200 Medley Relay - 1. Blue Mountain (Gabriel Kamarousky, Liam Magdeburg, Aidan Varney, Noah Powers) 1:57.35; 200 Freestyle - 1. Porter Sarnes (BM) 2:00.46, 2. Liam Magdeburg (BM), 3. Brandon Temarantz (T); 200 IM - 1. Gabriel Kamarousky (BM) 2:18.96, 2. Jonathan Hart (BM), 3. Luciano Keck (BM); 50 Freestyle - 1. Noah Powers (BM) 21.53, 2. Aidan Varney (BM), 3. Jacob Hehn (T); Diving - 1. Vincenzo Valentine (T) 146.55; 100 Butterfly - 1. Brody Moyer (BM) 58.22, 2. Porter Sarnes (BM), 3. Jacon Hehn (T); 100 Freestyle - 1. Gabriel Kamarousky (BM) 53.86, 2. Zach Scala (BM), 3. William Behun (T); 500 Freestyle - 1. Liam Magdeburg (BM) 5:34.04, 2. Brandon Temarantz (T), 3. Billy Coombe (T); 200 Freestyle Relay - 1. Blue Mountain (Gabriel Kamarousky, Zach Scala, Aidan Varney, Noah Powers) 1:42.42; 100 Backstroke - 1. Noah Powers (BM) 52.36, 2. Zach Scala (BM), 3. William Behun (T); 100 Breaststroke - 1. Jonathan Hart (BM) 1:14.35, 2. Nicholas Barron (T), 3. Vincenzo Valentine (T); 400 Freestyle Relay - 1. Blue Mountain (Porter Sarnes, Luciano Keck, Brody Moyer, Liam Magdeburg) 4:00.29.