Plum’s Decheck leads Sampson Family YMCA charge at state meet

By: Karen Kadilak
Friday, April 5, 2019 | 5:14 PM

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Plum senior Justin Decheck keeps every one of the commemorative patches he has earned at the Pennsylvania YMCA State Swimming Championship meet.

There’s something else to add to his collection: a gold medal.

Decheck, 18, a member of the Sampson Family YMCA team, won the boys 15-and-over 100-yard backstroke (52.05 seconds) in this year’s meet, which was March 22-24 at Penn State. He avenged a loss to Josh Merchbaker of the Franklin Flyers (52.56) at the district championship.

“(I am) not surprised he won,” Sampson Family YMCA coach Kayla Joy said. “He went into that meet wanting it.”

Decheck, a Gannon recruit, also earned a medal in the 100 butterfly (51.51) with a fourth-place finish. He qualified in both events for the YMCA Short Course Nationals from April 1-5 in Greensboro, N.C., but will not compete.

The state meet capped a busy four weeks for Decheck.

Earlier, he placed sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:44.15) and 100 butterfly (50.84) at the WPIAL Class AAA championship. He swam in the preliminaries of the PIAA meet.

“It’s really hard to hold that taper,” Decheck said. “It’s so hard to keep it going so late in the season.”

Gannon coach Darren Suroviec said Decheck has improved significantly since signing a letter of intent to the Golden Knights in November.

“We are excited to see him make the greatest contributions in the 100 butterfly,” Suroviec said. “However, with his talent, his other events will be developed and will improve.

“Justin will have an opportunity to swim on the ‘A’ relays during his first year.”

Plum coach Shawn Haupt said Gannon is lucky to have the 6-foot-1 Decheck.

“As he gets stronger, his times will continue to improve,” Haupt said. “I look to see him at NCAA (Division) II championships by the end of his four years.”

Decheck considered John Carroll and Towson. He plans to study economics.

He was one of two individuals from the Sampson Family YMCA to top the podium at the state championship.

Dominique Massie (27.15) was first in the girls 10-and-under 50 freestyle. Massie anchored the 200 freestyle relay team of Alexis Angely, Brooke Price and Charlotte Faust that won (1:58.49).

“(It was) a great weekend,” Joy said.

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