A-K Valley swimmers hoping to make big splash at state meet

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, March 13, 2018 | 12:26 AM

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Sixteen days will pass for Highlands sophomore Rachel Blackburn between her final swim at the WPIAL Class AA championships March 2 and her lone event at states Saturday.

She is the 14th seed in the girls 100-yard breaststroke. She took fourth at WPIALs (1:07.64).

But Blackburn, along with several others from the WPIAL set to take part in the PIAA swimming championships Wednesday through Saturday at Bucknell, kept her competitive focus sharp at a USA Swimming Junior Olympic event over the weekend.

“I've been working hard to get physically and mentally ready to swim well and get into the top eight,” said Blackburn, who is a solo competitor at states this year after being part of Highlands' 200 freestyle relay at Bucknell last year. “I am really excited to go up there, swim my best, and see where that gets me.”

Blackburn is one of 11 swimming individuals and relays or divers from the Alle-Kiski Valley to record PIAA automatic or at-large qualifying performances at WPIALs.

Deer Lakes leads the way as three individuals and one relay will combine to swim in seven events at the AA championships Friday and Saturday.

Sophomore Noah Loper, who rose from an eighth seed to a second-place finish (4:48.26) in the 500 free at WPIALs, makes his PIAA debut as the sixth seed.

Fellow Lancers sophomores Renee Robson and Adam Morrison make return trips after earning top-four automatic bids in their freestyle events.

The Lancers boys 400 free relay (Morrison, Loper, Alex Sharkins, Max Hilliard) will compete at states after breaking the school record and earning a WPIAL medal.

“They all came into WPIALs with high expectations and performed well,” Deer Lakes coach Tori Maze said. “I'm excited to see what they can do at states.”

Fox Chapel junior diver Jonah Cagley, a two-time WPIAL champion after taking the boys AAA title Feb. 24, will go for state gold as the No. 2 seed.

Cagley placed third at states last year.

Freshman David Manelis, seeded eighth, will join Cagley to form a 1-2 diving punch for Fox Chapel. Only one other school — Wilson from District 3 — will send two divers to the AAA boys competition.

Fox Chapel senior Joslyn Filo (100 fly, eighth seed) and Plum junior Devan Taylor (100 breast, ninth seed) return to states gunning for medal-winning performances.

Also competing at states are Kiski senior Josh Madzy in the boys AAA 200 free and 100 back, and the Fox Chapel girls 200 medley relay of Joslyn Filo, Jaclyn Filo, Grace Gackenbach and Molly Wiese.

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

Tags: Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Highlands, Kiski School, Plum