Mifflin County, Juniata swimmers medal at Day one of D6 swimming

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: March 1, 2019

By Kenny Varner

UNIVERSITY PARK – One of the goals every for the Mifflin County swim team is to simply do their best and finish with their season with their fastest record.

In their first day of action all has went according to plan as there were personal records broken all over the Penn State Natatorium in the first day of the District 6 swim meet.

“That’s exactly what I’m looking for. All I want to see is your knocking down your time and improving,” Mifflin County coach Gretchen Seyler said. “In practically every event today we lowered our times.”

The boys 200–yard medley relay and Hannah Bonson in the 200-yard freestyle both medaled with third place finishes.

In the boys medley, the team of Ethan Andrews, Ethan Patkalitsky, Adam Clemson and Calvin Ivie finished with a time of 2:08.85, finishing almost six seconds faster than their best finish.

Mifflin County’s Girls 200 Medley team also finished with a person best time, posting a 1:58.84.

With Bonson finishing third in the 200-yard freestyle, her time was 2:03.65 while teammate Morgan Robinette finished with a season best time of 2:12.79.

In a fast moving field, the Huskies upped their tempo as well.

From the very first race, Mifflin County battled rival State College.

It was also a day when to Juniata swimmers show their expertise as well.

In the girls 200-yard IM, Ella Stuck finished with a fifth place time of 2:22.82, down almost two seconds from her top race.

Mifflin County has two girls compete in the 50-yard freestyle.

Julia Montgomery finished with a season best time of 28.72. Her best previously was 29.95.

In the final heat of the 50 Free, Madeline Baisey finished with a season best time of 27.81.

The boys also had two competitors in the 50 free.

Clemson finished with a best time of 26.21 while teammate Ivie had a best time of 26.94.

Teammate Ethan Andrews finished sixth in the boys 200 IM with a time of 2:17.66.

Macy Becker placed fifth in the 100-yard butterfly with a season low of 1:03.54.

Mifflin County ended its night like it started, with new bests.

In the girls 200-yard freestyle relay, the combination of Becker, Julia Montgomery, Baisey and Robinette finished with a 1:49.72, three seconds off their previous best.

Rounding out the night for the Huskies was the boys 200 freestyle relay.

The team consisting of Andrews, Patkalitsky, Ivie and Clemson finished fifth with a time of 1:50.94.

Juniata freshman Emily Houtz finished 4th in the 200 IM, with a personal best time of 2:24.63.

Junior Sydney Houtz finished 2nd in the 100 fly, with a time of 58.18. Her time will likely get her an at-large bid to States.

It’s been quite a personal rivalry this season for Sydney and Penns Valley Rams swimmer and winner of the 100 butterfly, Sophia Gearhart, who posted a state qualifying time of 57.21.

“That has been every time. They swam against each other this season at the Juniata Valley YMCA. So that’s where they got those seed times. They do this all the time, they go back and forth,” said Juniata coach Houtz. “Hopefully this time will get her there but we’ll just have to see.”

Sydney’s younger sister, freshman Emily also went against Gerhart in the 200-yard IM finals. Emily Gearhart finished strong in her first District 6 heat, finishing 4th with a time of 2:24.63.

Day two resumes at the Penn State Natatorium Saturday at 2pm.