ALLENTOWN — Tamaqua’s Savanna Wilson was exhausted after she captured a bronze medal in the 200 IM during Friday’s opening day of the District 11 Class 2A Swimming Championships at Parkland High School.

However, it was well worth it.

“I felt more tired than usual swimming the IM today and I added three seconds,” said Wilson, who hit the mark in 2:21.29. “But I’m still happy I get to swim with such amazing swimmers. The IM isn’t my main focus while swimming, so I’m not too upset.”

Last season, Wilson finished second in the IM and first in the 100-breaststroke. The junior was among a group of local swimmers who participated in the meet. Swimmers from Marian and Northwestern were able to hit the wall first in events before their competitors.

Wilson joined teammates Katie Behun, Audrey Nattress and Ava Jones to win the 200 medley relay in a time of 1:56.15, and defend their top seed while winning a state berth. The foursome significantly improved from last year, as it finished third in a time of 2:02.05.

For Wilson, it has been a steady stream since she began swimming in first grade. She is looking for further success Saturday.

“My season has gone very well so far, during this season I have set the Tamaqua pool record and set a new team record,” said Wilson. “I have also gotten some best times in other events and have had a lot of fun with my team as well.

“Although my IM isn’t what I was hoping for, I have had the best season by far this year. I have put in a lot of time and work into the season, and I hope I can see it all come together tomorrow for breaststroke.”

The second half of the meet gets underway Saturday at 10 a.m. back at Parkland.

Tamaqua head swimming coach Jen Paisley has watched Wilson and the relay team make plenty of waves this season.

“Savannah has been one of our standout swimmers since her freshman year,” said Paisley. “This year she’s emerged as a team leader, both in and out of the water. I think her leadership has pushed her teammates to work hard and see the potential they have, especially with the girls she swims the medley with.

“I think the turning point for the relay team was at our dual meet with powerhouse Blue Mountain when those girls finished ahead of their medley team. That was the moment they realized they really had the potential for a stellar performance that could take them past the district level if they continued to work hard. I couldn’t be prouder of these girls and the effort they put in all season long to have the success they do.”

Marian’s Michael and Lydia Strucko both brought home gold medals in the 200 freestyle (1:45.29) and the 200 IM (2:20.51) respectively.

Lydia, a sophomore who began swimming at the age of seven, felt more comfortable this time around after she was first in the 200 IM and second in the 100 as well as 10th in the 200 and ninth in the 100 at states last year.

She also has gained inspiration from her brother, who is a junior and a two-time state place winner.

“Last year was definitely more stressful, and I was much more nervous,” reflected Strucko. “Now, I feel I have grown a lot, and I feel much more prepared regarding the competition and the atmosphere.

“Michael sparked my interest in swimming, and he has served as role mode, practice partner, and biggest supporter. He is extremely helpful not only inside the pool, but outside of it. He always is critiquing my strokes and giving me positive feedback.”

Head coach Andrea Feathers sees a contrast between the siblings, but the end results are the same.

“Lydia is laid back and oh, so humble,” said Feathers. “She is very supportive of her teammates, brings a positive attitude, and is very bubbly. Michael is serious and focused. He pushes the boys on the team to be better and have a positive attitude.

“I love the bond these siblings have. They are so supportive towards one another and push each other. They are locked in for states again this year.”

Northwestern freshman Olivia Wozniak was first – and seeded first - in the 100 butterfly (59.57) and second in 200 IM (2:14.32), while Tiger senior Hunter Slaski took top honors in the boys 100 fly (53.08) and second in the 200 freestyle (1:46.84).

Wozniak’s determination and dedication has proved to pay dividends down the stretch of the season.

“Swimming high school meets on top of my club meets was hard and tiring,” said Wozniak. “I wasn’t always swimming at my best for most meets. We train to do well at championship meets, so I knew I would do much better today.

“I was rested, ready, and felt really good about my swims today. There was a lot of energy in the pool that got me really excited and helped my performance.”

District 11 Swimming Championships

At Parkland High School

Class 2A

Legend

Allentown Central Catholic (ACC), Blue Mountain (BM), Catasauqua (Cat), East Stroudsburg North (ESN), Mahanoy Area (Mah), Marian (Mar), Moravian Academy (Mor), North Schuylkill (NS), Northwestern Lehigh (NWL), Notre Dame-Green Pond (NDG), Palisades (Pal), Panther Valley (PV), Pottsville (Po), Salisbury (Sal), Saucon Valley (Sau), Schuylkill Haven (SH), Southern Lehigh (SL), Tamaqua (Tam)

Friday’s results

GIRLS

200 medley relay - 1. Tamaqua (Behun, Wilson, Nattress, A. Jones) 1:56.15, 2. Pottsville 1:59.57, 3. Moravian Academy 2:02.32, 4. Mahanoy Area 2:02.56, 5. Allentown Central Catholic 2:05.97, 6. Saucon Valley 2:09.40, 7. Blue Mountain 2:10.04, 8. Salisbury 2:12.65; 200 freestyle - 1. Ballek (Sal) 1:58.32, 2. Amorim (Sal) 2:00.69, 3. Wolfe (NS) 2:04.41, 4. Kehoe-Huck (ACC) 2:07.09, 5. J. Crossen (BM) 2:07.59, 6. Lafko (BM) 2:09.30, 7. G. LaSelva (Po) 2:11.02, 8. Silverthorn (Sau) 2:17.67; 200 IM - 1. Strucko (Mar) 2:10.51, 2. Wozniak (NWL) 2:14.32, 3. Wilson (Tam) 2:21.29, 4. Oldford (Pal) 2:27.71, 5. Walp (Cat) 2:31.04, 6. Aemisegeo (Mor) 2:33.07, 7. Uliana (NDG) 2:33.29, 8. Chaffier (Sau) 2:33.41; 50 freestyle - 1. Tripp (NDG) 23.74, 2. Cort (Sau) 23.88, 3. Kaplafka (BM) 24.32, 4. H. Stauffer (SH) 24.79, 5. Dechert (Sau) 25.05, 6. C. Stauffer (SH) 26.10, 7. A. LaSelva (Po) 26.24, 8. T. Salefski (NS) 26.58; 100 butterfly - 1. Wozniak (NWL) 59.37, 2. A. LaSelva (Po) 1:04.05, 3. Hensel (BM) 1:04.06, 4. Domermuth (SH) 1:04.91, 5. Wegner (Mor) 1:05.84, 6. Dewalt (Pen) 1:06.76, 7. Byers (Pal) 1:08.69, 8. Johnston (Sau) 1:08.70; 200 freestyle relay - 1. Blue Mountain (Hensel, J. Crossen, Lafko, Kaplafka) 1:43.28, 2. Schuylkill Haven 1:43.30, 3. Saucon Valley 1:43.53, 4. Salisbury 1:48.29, 5. Moravian Academy 1:50.25, 6. Tamaqua 1:51.45, 7. Allentown Central Catholic 1:53.00, 8. North Schuylkill 1:53.27

Team Standings (after Event 13)

1. Blue Mountain 207, 2. Saucon Valley 131, 3. Allentown Central Catholic 111, 4. Salisbury 106, 5. Tamaqua 101, 6. Moravian Academy 100, 7. Schuylkill Haven 94, 8. North Schuylkill 93, 9. Pottsville 89, 10. Mahanoy Area 39, 11. Marian 38, 12. East Stroudsburg North 24

BOYS

200 medley relay - 1. Southern Lehigh (Smith, Zabinski, Rizzo, Lyon) 1:40.48, 2. Blue Mountain 1:40.77, 3. Pottsville 1:46.57, 4. Moravian Academy 1:48.72, 5. Saucon Valley 1:49.01, 6. Allentown Central Catholic 1:57.45, 7. Salisbury 2:00.17, 8. East Stroudsburg North 2:01.38; 200 freestyle - 1. Strucko (Mar) 1:45.29, 2. Slaski (NWL) 1:46.84, 3. Sarnes (BM) 1:50.00, 4. Magdeburg (BM) 1:54.29, 5. Rizzo (SL) 1:56.15, 6. Wright (Po) 1:57.82, 7. Meyers (NS) 1:58.98, 8. Hart (BM) 1:59.31; 200 IM - 1. Zabinski (SL) 2:00.32, 2. Miller (SH) 2:02.32, 3. Mahon (ACC) 2:04.90, 4. Amorim (Sal) 2:05.92, 5. Braadt (NWL) 2;09.45, 6. Sareen (SL) 2:12.83, 7. Kamarousky (BM) 2:13.20, 8. Tsyvine (SL) 2:14.51; 50 freestyle - 1. Powers (BM) 20.34**, 2. Janis (ACC) 21.99, 3. Fitzpatrick (ACC) 22.40, 4. Lyon (SL) 22.65, 5. Bevan (Po) 22.96, 6. Varney (BM) 23.09, 7. Weikert (Sau) 23.12, 8. Rafferty (ACC) 23.40; 100 butterfly - 1. Slaski (NWL) 53.08, 2. Moyer (BM) 54.93, 3. Smith (SL) 55.60, 4. Mahon (ACC) 56.16, 5. King (Sau) 56.32, 6. Williams (Mor) 57.10, 7. Bucher (Mor) 1:00.97, 8. Schiffer (SL) 1:01.48; 200 freestyle relay - 1. Blue Mountain (Moyer, Kamarousky, Varney, Powers) 1:28.83, 2. Pottsville 1:34.95, 3. Southern Lehigh 1:36.20, 4. Saucon Valley 1:36.58, 5. North Schuylkill 1:39.07, 6. Salisbury 1:39.90, 7. Moravian Academy 1:40.87, 8. Marian 1:41.21

Team Standings (after Event 14)

1. Southern Lehigh 215, 2. Blue Mountain 184, 3. Pottsville 158, 4. Allentown Central Catholic 105, 5. Saucon Valley 101, 6. Moravian Academy 88, 7. Salisbury 76, 8. North Schuylkill 69, 9. Schuylkill Haven 53, 10. Marian 45, 11. East Stroudsburg North 42, 12. Tamaqua 40.