Fox Chapel’s Filo takes silver at WPIAL swimming

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, March 1, 2018 | 11:39 PM

Fox Chapel senior Joslyn Filo knew what it felt like to bring home a WPIAL second-place medal.

But she didn't know what it felt like to do it in the 100-yard butterfly.

A year after taking second in the girls Class AAA 50 freestyle, Filo raced to that position in the 100 fly Thursday at the WPIAL AAA championships at Pitt's Trees Pool.

She clocked a personal-best time of 56.67 seconds.

“I just had to give it my all and get my best time,” Filo said. “Hopefully, at states, I can go even faster.”

Last year, she was runner-up to WPIAL 50 free record holder Olivia Livingston from Gateway.

This time, Mt. Lebanon junior Trinity Ward captured gold in the 100 fly with a time of 55.18. It was Ward's third 100 fly title in as many seasons.

In addition to her second-place medal, Filo returns to states as an automatic qualifier. The top three finishers in each AAA event will swim at the PIAA championships, set for March 14-17 at Bucknell.

Filo also helped the Fox Chapel girls 200 medley relay, which included sophomores Grace Gackenbach and Jaclyn Filo and senior Molly Wiese, finish fourth (1:48.84). While the finish didn't earn the quartet an automatic bid to states, the time should put it in contention for an at-large selection from the PIAA.

Deer Lakes fared well Thursday in the first session for Class AA. The Lancers medaled in four events, led by a runner-up finish from sophomore Adam Morrison in the boys 200 freestyle. He finished with a time of 1:46.70 and moved up from seventh last year. He also earned an automatic bid to states, as does every AA individual or relay that places fourth or better Thursday or Friday.

“At the end, I could barely get out of the pool. I had given it everything I had,” Morrison said. “When I looked up, I saw the 1:46 but didn't think I got second. Then I saw the No. 2, I couldn't believe it was real. I knew it was going to be pretty fast. They pushed me, and I knew I pushed them, too.”

Lancers sophomore Renee Robson moved up from fourth last year in the 50 free to third this year with a 24.65.

“It feels surreal. I can't believe I got third,” said Robson, who will swim the 100 free Friday.

“I'm so excited, so proud. The season has been a long one, and it proves that hard work does pay off.”

Mt. Pleasant's Heather Gardner, a sophomore as well, won the 50 free title after finishing as runner-up last year.

Deer Lakes sophomore Noah Loper ascended to the medals podium in the boys AA 200 individual medley as he finished eighth with a time of 2:03.26, almost 3 seconds faster than his seed time (2:06.16).

Loper broke through individually after finishing one spot out of a medal in the 200 free last year.

Morrison and Loper teamed with sophomore A.J. Dorman and freshman Max Hilliard to pick up a seventh-place medal in the 200 free relay (1:32.45).

Other Alle-Kiski Valley swimmers to capture medals on Day 1 include Highlands sophomore Rachel Blackburn with an eighth in the AA girls 200 IM (2:16.33), Plum junior Devan Taylor with a sixth in the girls AAA 200 IM (2:09.97), the Plum girls 200 medley relay of Taylor, sophomore Delanee White, freshman Charlotte Jones and junior Alex Smith (seventh, 1:49.32) and Kiski Area senior Josh Madzy in the boys AAA 200 free (seventh, 1:43.89).

WPIAL swimming continues Friday. The AAA swimmers return to Trees Pool for the morning session at 10. The AA races begin at 3 p.m.

The events contested will be the 100 free, 500 free, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and the 400 free relay.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Kiski School