Pennsylvania Boys High School State Champs: Wilson Wins 3A Title, while Scranton Prep Take the 2A Crown

By Bill Bell

STATE COLLEGE, PA., March 25. WILSON HIGH parlayed its depth in relays to splash to the 2001 Boys' 3A Pennsylvania state high school championship while Scranton Prep took top honors in the 2A division here the second Sunday of the month at Penn State University's McCoy Natatorium.

3A CHAMPIONSHIPS
Wilson won only a solo individual event — Ben Anderson in the 500 free — but took No. 1s in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays and was runner-up in the 200 free foursome to stroke to a comfortable 165-108 team title over North Penn. Bethel Park, with 105 points, was a close third.

In some respects Wilson's win is reminiscent of Coach Jack Bauerle's Georgia Bulldogs' women's NCAA Division I title a week ago on Long Island, when the 'Dogs won but one event — a relay at that — yet squeaked past Stanford by a point and-a-half for the championship.

Here the meet featured a pair of double winners, 10th-grader Cameron Hollinger (Penn Manor) in the 100-200 frees, and senior Corey Welch (Wyoming Valey West) in the 200 IM-100 breast.

Hollinger went a state-record 1:39.12 to win the double century and 45.80 to take top spot in the 100. Welch won the IM in 1:51.74 and the breaststroke in a very fast 56.66.

The Pennsylvania 100 breaststroke record is 53.67 by Brendan Hansen from Haverford High last season. This weekend, Hansen won the 100 breast in a pool, school and Big 12 record 52.35 (second performer, fourth performance all-time) plus the 200 breast in a pool, meet, Big 12 AND American record 1:53.11.

Other 3A Championship winners included Frank Kraowski (Cathedral Prep) in the 100 fly (50.39); Chris Dwyer (Souderton Area) in the 50 free, 20.53 with a 20.51 in the prelims; John Lutz (Lower Dauphin) in the 100 back (50.49); and Souderton Area in the 200 freestyle relay (1:25.61).

In the 100 back top qualifier was Emmaus' Joshua Cierski (50.04) but he was runner-up in 50.55 at night and also second in the 200 free.

2A CHAMPIONSHIPS
Scranton Prep took the 2A title scoring 134 points, while Moon Area was runner-up (113 points) and Westmont Hilltop third (93).

As in the boys' 3A Championship, the winning 2A team was not the one with the most individual or relay victories. In fact, Scranton Prep had only a single title — the 200 freestyle relay — to show for winning.

There was a trio of double individual champions: ninth-grader Michael Swanson (Lancaster Country Day) in the 200 (1:43.57) and 500 frees (4:39.24); 11th-grader Andy Storm (Lewisburg) in the 200 IM (1:57.06) and 100 breast (58.80); and junior Andrew Pebley (Danville) in the 50 free (21.62) and 100 back (52.22).

In the 100 breast, Reading Catholic's Matt Weiser, state record-holder from last season in a 57.89, was second (59.13 after qualifying No. 2 in 58.95 to winner Storm's prelim time of 58.92).

Aside from its relay win, Scranton was second in the 200 freestyle relay and got a second from Scott Lesak in the 50 free and a third from Jason O'Koren in the 100 breast as its only other podium finishes.

Another ninth-grader, Shady Side Academy's Brett Murphy, won the 100 free in 47.01 and was second to Swanson in the 200 free.

Moon Area's Mark Backman was tops in the 100 fly (51.78) with teammate Nick Jackson (51.84) a close second.

The opening 200 medley relay went to Moon Area (1:38.32 to Scranton's 1:38.45) while the closing 400 sprint relay was won by Westmont Hilltop (3:15.26) to Shady Side's 3:15.49.

PENNSAYLVANIA 3A BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIPS

TEAM SCORES
Wilson, 165
North Penn, 108
Bethel Park, 105

200 MEDLEY RELAY
1:34.66 Wilson
1:36.29 McDowell
1:36.46 Cumberland Valley

200 FREESTYLE
1:39.12* Cameron Hollinger, Penn Manor
1:41.31 Joshua Cierski, Emmaus
1:41.88 Thomas Fletcher, Seneca Valley

200 IND. MEDLEY
1:51.74 Corey Welch, Wyoming Valley West
1:53.80 Alan Carter, Bethel Park
1:54.41 Nick Fanslau, North Penn

50 FREESTYLE
20.53 Chris Dwyer, Souderton Area
21.15 Reggie Shearer, Dallastown
21.25 Matt Erdosy, Northampton

100 BUTTERFLY
50.39 Frank Krakowski, Cathedral Prep
50.58 Jason Miller, Cumberland Valley
50.72 Chad White, Chambersburg

200 FREESTYLE RELAY
1:25.61 Souderton Area
1:25.95 Wilson
1:23.67 North Penn

100 FREESTYLE
45.80 Cameron Hollinger, Penn Manor
46.03 John Lutz, Lower Dauphin
46.33 Frank Krakowski, Cathedral Prep

500 FREESTYLE
4:35.04 Ben Robinson, Wilson
4:36.06 Tom Fletcher, Seneca Valley
4:42.81 Kevin VanBuskirk, No. Allegheny

100 BACKSTROKE
50.49 John Lutz, Lower Dauphin
50.55 Josh Cierski, Emmaus
50.59 Shawn McLin, Wilson

100 BREASTSTROKE
56.66 Corey Welch, Wyoming Val. West
58.44 Robert Mitchell, Mechanicsburg
59.01 Victor Ravinowich, McDowell

400 FREESTYLE RELAY
3:09.24 Wilson
3:10.59 North Penn
3:11.10 North Allegheny

PENNSYLVANIA 2A BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIPS

TEAM SCORES
Scranton Prep 134
Moon Area 113
Westmont Hilltop 93

RESULTS
200 MEDLEY RELAY
1:38.32 Moon Area
1:38.45 Seneca Prep
1:40.05 Radnor

200 FREESTYLE
1:43.57 Michael Swanson, Lancaster Country Day
1:43.65 Brett Murphy, Shady Side Academy
1:43.71 Jordan Gradus, Westmont Hilltop

200 IND. MEDLEY
1:57.06 Andy Storm, Lewisburg
1:58.52 Nick Jackson, Moon Area
1:59.35 Tim Carvel, Hershey

50 FREESTYLE
21.62 Andrew Pebley, Danville
21.90 Scott Lesak, Scranton Area
21.98 Brett Palmer, Susquenita

100 BUTTERFLY
51.78 Mark Backman, Moon Area
51.84 Nick Jackson, Moon Area
52.01 Tim Carvell, Hershey

200 FREESTYLE RELAY
1:27.36 Scranton Prep
1:38.54 Westmont Hilltop
1:29.94 Radnor

100 FREESTYLE
47.01 Brett Murphy, Shady Side Academy
47.24 Jordan Grados, Westmont Hilltop
47.54 Kevin Scott, Radnor

500 FREESTYLE
4:39.24 Michael Swanson, Lancaster Country Day
4:39.40 Thomas Johnson, York Catholic
4:41.11 Andrew Thorn, Lancaster Catholic

100 BACKSTROKE
52.22 Andrew Pebley, Danville
52.79 Sam Engel, Mannheim Central
53.39 Mark Lesak, Scranton Prep

100 BREASTSTROKE
58.80 Andy Storm, Lewisburg
59.13 Matt Weiser, Reading Cent. Cath.
59.87 Jason O'Koren, Scranton Prep

400 FREESTYLE RELAY
3:15.26 Westmont Hilltop
3:15.49 Shady Side Academy
3:16.67 Owen J. Roberts
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