Deer Lakes pair set for WPIAL swimming encore

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 | 9:12 PM

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Deer Lakes sophomores Adam Morrison and Renee Robson made their mark last March in their inaugural appearances at the WPIAL Class AA swim championships.

Robson was a double top-eight medalist (50 free, fourth; 100 free, sixth). Morrison brought home a medal in the 200 free (seventh) and just missed one in the 500 free (ninth). Both also competed at states.

Robson and Morrison are hoping for standout encores on the WPIAL's biggest stage as the championships are contested Thursday and Friday at Pitt's Trees Pool.

“I know what to expect this year, and it has cut down on the anxiety,” said Morrison, seeded third in the 200 free and fifth in the 500. “Already being in medal position gets me excited. I know going in that everyone is going to swim faster. I have to cut time also. Everyone pushes each other to go faster.”

Robson paid attention to detail in her in-pool training and focused on staying in shape away from the water.

She hopes it pays off as she is seeded third in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 free.

“I feel pretty good about where I'm at,” Robson said. “My goal was to get into that final heat for both events. Being in one of the middle lanes will help me be faster. You never know what can happen. I have to swim my best and see where that puts me.”

Deer Lakes sophomore Noah Loper almost joined Morrison and Robson on the podium last year, but he finished ninth in the 200 freestyle. He is in the final (fastest) heat in the 200 IM (fifth seed) and 500 free (eighth).

“I'm pretty confident. I've been working for this all year,” Loper said. “The ninth place definitely gave me a lot of motivation. I was upset after seeing how close I was.”

Morrison and Loper will join freshman Max Hilliard and sophomore A.J. Dorman in the fifth-seeded 200 free relay.

The Class AAA events will be contested both days from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Class AA will be 3 to 5:30 p.m.

Thursday will feature the 200 medley relay, the 200 individual medley, the 200 free, the 50 free, the 100 butterfly and the 200 free relay. Friday's lineup will have the 100 free, 500 free, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and 400 free relay.

The top three in Class AAA and top four in Class AA qualify for the PIAA championship meet, March 14-17 at Bucknell.

The PIAA also will select additional qualifiers based on their WPIAL times.

In all, Alle-Kiski Valley swimmers will compete 19 times in the final heat (top eight) for individual or relay events. Another seven are right on the cusp as ninth or 10th seeds and will form the core of the second-to-last heat.

Last year, Highlands sophomore Rachel Blackburn qualified for states as part of a relay. This year, she is hoping to make it to Bucknell on her solo merits.

She is one of three A-K Valley swimmers to own a No. 2 seed. She is second in the Class AA 100 breaststroke.

“Rachel and I both were very pleasantly surprised with her seed,” Highlands coach Becca Arabia said. “She knows it's going to be very competitive. She's preparing both mentally and physically.”

Plum junior Devan Taylor owns the school record in the 100 breast, and she is seeded second (1:06.00) in the Class AAA girls event. It is highest seed in three years for the past WPIAL medalist and state qualifier.

“Devan's feeling great,” Plum coach Shawn Haupt said. “She knew she would be seeded second in the breaststroke, and she's really excited about that. She's ready to go after the title.”

Fox Chapel senior Joslyn Filo hopes her final high school swims at Trees Pool land her medals or even a title.

She posted a time of 57.78 seconds in the 100 fly in a dual meet with Penn Hills on Jan. 18, which earned a No. 2 seed for WPIALs.

Filo also is in medal contention as the No. 9 seed in the 100 free (53.61).

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

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