Here’s how Centre County swimmers fared during the 2023 PIAA state championships

Kyle J. Andrews
·3 min read
State College Area High School senior Jade Castro surfaces for air during the Girls 100 Yard Backstroke in the AAA Bracket during the PIAA Swimming and Diving 2023 District 6 Championship held at the McCoy Natatorium on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in University Park, Pa. Castro placed first in her event with a final time of 0:55.16.

State College’s boys and girls swim teams went to the PIAA Class 3A state championships with a mission — win a state championship.

The Little Lions boys and girls team’s inched closer toward their goal in 2023, placing ninth and fourth, respectively. State College’s boys team had a score of 87.50, while the girls finished off their successful weekend with a score of 158 and a state championship in an event.

State College’s girls team won the 200-yard medley relay state championship with Jade Castro, Madison Watschke, Ally Koehle and Molly Workman taking home gold with a time of 1:42.99 — a new school record — on Friday. Castro had a time of 2:02.71 in the 200-yard individual medley for bronze with Watschke finishing seventh (2:06.77) in the same race.

The first-year standout Workman won her first medal at states in her career, dashing to a time of 23.14 for bronze. Then, the Lady Little Lions ended their night with a silver in the girls 200-yard relay with Workman, Watschke, Kelly Brownstead and Castro having a time of 1:34.87.

State College’s girls team entered Saturday in second-place and began with a bronze in the girls 100-yard freestyle with a time of 50.78 from Workman. Castro followed with a silver in the girls 100-yard backstroke (53.78), Watschke placed 14th in the girls 100-yard breaststroke (1:06.74) and the Lady Little Lions finished 15th in the girls 400-yard freestyle relay with Koehle, Ditta Kowalik, Brownstead and Grace Carrington placing a time of 3:38.22 on Saturday.

The Little Lions boys team began Friday with a seventh-place finish in the boys 200-yard medley relay with Tyler Uhlig, Shawn Erdley, Leo Garlicki and Sam Huggins posting a time of 1:35.20. Huggins finished third in the boys 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:39.94, while Erdley placed sixth in the boys 200-yard individual medley, ending with a time of 1:53.89.

Below are the results from the other Centre County swim teams in the state championships.

Bellefonte

Girls

Kiaha McCool had a time of 1:55.57 in the girls 200-yard freestyle to finish fifth and followed up with a time of 57.50 in the girls 100-yard backstroke on Thursday. Kate Rarrick also placed on the podium on Thursday in the girls 500-yard freestyle, completing the race in 5:17.94.

The Bellefonte girls (Addie Pringle, Rarrick, Katelyn Packer and McCool) later finished 14th in the girls 400-yard freestyle relay (3:43.73). Bellefonte finished 16th with a score of 46.

Penns Valley

Boys

Liam Quigley placed 14th in the boys 100-yard breaststroke, posting a time of 1:00.39. Penns Valley placed 48th with five points.

Girls

Maggie Delaney placed sixth in Thursday’s girls 100-yard breaststroke race with a time of 1:06.02. Penns Valley finished 44th with 13 scores.