Schuylkill Valley girls win District 3 Class 2A swimming title, Owen Eisenhofer wins 100 back for the Panthers boys

Mar. 4—MECHANICSBURG — The Schuylkill Valley girls swimming team added another page to its illustrious history book, winning its seventh straight District 3 Class 2A team title at Cumberland Valley High School Saturday.

Backed by gold-medal performances from seniors Paige McKim and Emily Gao, as well as a win in the 400 free relay, the Panthers compiled 335 points to finish 113 ahead of runner-up York Suburban. It is the program's ninth District 3 title.

"They always say tradition never graduates and it's pretty cool to see it happen over the course of seven years now," Panthers coach Kyle Campbell said. "Every year new kids come up with great older leadership that kind of helps the younger kids get ready for the pool and what's to come.

"It's an awesome feeling. The kids are great."

Keeping the party rolling in the boys 2A competition for Schuylkill Valley was freshman Owen Eisenhofer, who won the 100 back in 51.97.

After winning her first district individual gold in the 50 free on Friday, Gao won the 100 breast in 1:07.61 Saturday.

"I'm even prouder than yesterday," Gao said. "When I was a freshman the seniors would say, 'I'm so proud of you guys,' and I never really understood what that meant.

"But now as a senior I finally understand what it means. When you look at someone and say, 'I'm so proud of you,' it's because they're like your family."

McKim won the 500 free in 5:15.07 for her first individual gold at districts. For McKim, a senior in her second season with the team, the path to gold was not as long as Gao's, but the success feels just as sweet.

"It's crazy," McKim said. "I don't believe it because swimming is just so fun and I've never really thought about the awards. I just love my team and I love practicing. It feels great and I'm glad to be here."

Though winning another team title may have appeared easy on paper, the Panthers put more than their fair share of time in the pool to prepare.

"The kids put in a lot of work," Campbell said. "They know swimming is a tough sport. If you don't put the work in, you're not gonna get the results you want.

"We have 8 a.m. practices on Saturdays with an optional morning practice at 7. Most of the kids come and put in the extra work because they know it's working."

Working well indeed. In addition to the three golds, the Panthers picked up six other medals Saturday.

Schuylkill Valley kicked things off with two medals in the 100 free. Jenna Kirby was fifth in 54.83 and Nya Solvino seventh in 56.19.

The Panthers closed the meet with their final gold as the 400 free relay team of Jenna Kirby, Annie Gao, Megan Raifsnider and McKim won in 3:39.57.

In the 100 back, Annie Gao earned a silver in 58.88 and Kirby picked up a bronze in 59.03.

Joining McKim on the 500 free podium was Raifsnider, who placed third in 5:31.38, and Leiland Wisnewski, who finished fourth in 5:35.03.

For McKim, bringing home the golds is the perfect senior sendoff.

"I've been working hard," McKim said. "It's such a nice way to kind of finish out the year with such a sweet goodbye."

In the end, the combined endeavors of a deep Panthers' squad that prides itself on sharing championship moments as a family were more than enough to keep the title in Leesport.

"I think it's amazing; I would not want to be with anyone else here," Emily Gao said. "They're my family. They know when you're sad, they know when you're happy and they always know the perfect thing to say.

"(Being on the team) means a lot. I'm really glad that I could help my team put in the effort; it's just a happy moment. I'm really glad that we all get to share this happiness together."

In the boys meet, Eisenhofer beat his seed time by 3.42 seconds in the 100 back to win gold. He also posted an impressive leadoff split of 48.25 as part of the Panthers' 400 relay team that included Hunter Moyer, Gabe Martin and David Kramer and finished fifth in 3:29.36.

"I think it was just in my underwater and getting myself to go out at a fast time," Eisenhofer said of his victory. "I went out a lot faster than I normally do. I was hoping to (win the 100 back), but that was way faster than I was expecting to go."

The Schuylkill Valley boys finished sixth with 137 points. Helping the Panthers along was Moyer, who finished sixth in the 500 free in 5:06.64.

Eisenhofer said he was proud to win alongside the girls' success and that the two teams heavily motivate each other in practice.

"It means a lot, getting to swim with girls that are very competitive and fast; that helps out a lot," Eisenhofer said. "I worked a lot harder this year than I have in years past and its definitely paying off."

Overall, Berks swimmers continued to represent the Central Penn League well.

Twin Valley's Dalton Baldwin finished fourth in the 100 back in a school-record 56.03. Baldwin also broke the school record in the 100 free, finishing 10th in 51 seconds.

Daniel Boone posted a strong showing in the boys 500 free as Tyler Ferenz finished third in 5:01.46 and Matthew Ferenz came in fifth in 5:03.64

Kutztown's Alex Clauss finished seventh in the 100 free in 49.63.

In the girls 100 breast, Kutztown's Haven Fegley came in eighth in 1:13.16.