Hershey’s girls almost totally dominated the top spot on Palmyra’s dais, winning ten of 11 events, including all three relays. Palmyra Gavin Tran grabbed two of them, winning the 200 individual medley and finishing third in the 100 breaststroke. Luke Tinsley was third in the 50 freestyle. With Kesterson, Davis and Golden in mind, Fastrich said, […]
Hershey’s girls almost totally dominated the top spot on Palmyra’s dais, winning ten of 11 events, including all three relays.
Palmyra
Gavin Tran grabbed two of them, winning the 200 individual medley and finishing third in the 100 breaststroke. Luke Tinsley was third in the 50 freestyle.
With Kesterson, Davis and Golden in mind, Fastrich said, “I knew the women’s team was going to be a little down this year and lose several meets. (But) those younger female swimmers are developing into what could be a solid women’s team once again.”
The girls weren’t great on Jan. 4 at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium, where they finished eighth of eight teams competing in the Wilson New Year’s Challenge Meet.
Junior Cornelius Cummings led the Cougars with two firsts (100 freestyle, 200 freestyle) and two seconds (200 and 400 freestyle relays).
“All three of those girls had a great meet Saturday at the New Year’s Challenge meet at Bucknell,” Fastrich said.
While none medaled, the three left lots of opponents in their wakes and pleased their coach, besides.
Junior Sam Gladysz (100 butterfly) and sophomore John Yerke (200 individual medley) were the other Palmyra winners.
Individual event winners were Kesterson (50 freestyle and 100 butterfly), Davis (200 individual medley, and 100 backstroke), Golden (100 breaststroke), Emma Fickett (500 freestyle) and Sally Paterno (100 freestyle).
While the girls’ season has started slowly, this is their best performance to date in a dual meet. The girls have lost a number of top swimmers over the last two years, and that has had an effect.
Sophomore Yaric Soltanov won the 50 freestyle.
Its boys’ team, off to a 4-0 start this season, topped the Cougars 103-67, while the girls’ team evened their record at 2-2 with a 113-57 decision.
Kesterson was fourth of 32 entrants in the 100 backstroke and fourth of 31 in the 200 individual medley. Davis was sixth of 32 in the 500 freestyle, and Golden, sixth of 31 in the 200 individual medley.
The boys did better with four first placers.
Eleanor Brower was Palmyra’s only female winner against Hershey, taking the 200 freestyle.
Tran won the 100 backstroke and also swam on the three relays.
But their squad’s last place finish didn’t affect the three aforementioned swimmers.
Austin Fastrich was a winner in the three events, while Caleb Tinsley (500 freestyle with a personal best 5:10.60 and the 200 medley relay) and Gray Oyerly (200 and 400 freestyle relay events) each won twice.
Luke Tinsley and Gavin Tran paced the boys with four first place finishes apiece. Tinsley won the 100-yard breaststroke and swam on all three relay teams, anchoring two of them.
The boys took three medals in finishing fourth at Bucknell.
The boys won seven events including all three relays.
Avery Kesterson and Anna Davis led the way with four first place finishes apiece while Luna Golden added three.
Hershey’s swimmers started their new year off right with easy wins over Palmyra High in a Jan. 2 meet at the Cougars’ pool.
But coach Greg Fastrich thinks things are turning around.
