After failing to qualify a single swimmer to the District Three Championships last year, the Comets made up for lost time. On March 1-2 at Cumberland Valley High School, nine Comet swimmers competed in the 3A championships where they grabbed two medals, set a school record and earned a couple of personal bests along the way.
Freshman Avery Groff led the medal-winners, claiming seventh place on Friday with a 5:16 in the 500 freestyle. Senior Anna Sugra earned Manor's second medal with her eighth place finish and personal best 1:56.79 in the 200 free on Saturday. Groff finished 17th in the same event with a 1:59.79.
Also on Saturday, the 200 medley relay team of Jalyn Clow, Sugra, Groff and Erica Shaub posted an 11th place finish with a new school record time of 1:53.66.
Rounding out Saturday's action was Erica Shaub with a 2:17.78 in the 200 IM good for 18th place as the Comets finished in 13th place as a team overall.
Shaub also competed on Friday where she settled for 25th place in the 100 backstroke with a 1:02.75. Sugra also hit the water on Friday, securing a 10th place finish in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:07.91.
Top place winner for the boys' team was Jared Stephan who's personal best 1:59.06 gave him a 10th place finish in the 200 IM on Saturday. He opened the meet with a 12th place finish on Friday, dropping his 500 free time by over five seconds for a 4:49.73.
The 200 medley relay team of Wes Kendig, Stephan, Andrew Pursel and Pan Kunyu turned in an 11th place finish with a 1:40.67 while the same group competing in the 400 free relay secured 14th place with a 3:20.49.
Pursel, Kendig and Kunyu all placed in two individual events. Pursel turned in a personal best 22.33 for 17th place in the 50 free with Kendig taking 21st in 22.75. Pursel was also 25th in the 100 free, recording yet another PR (49.73). Kendig settled for 20th place in the 100 butterfly (55.02) while Barry Everett matched that placing in the 100 breaststroke (3:20.49).
Kunyu scored a pair of 29th place finishes, clocking a 50.24 in the 100 free and a 57.53 in the 100 back.
"Overall, this season was incredible," said second year head coach Eric Urban. "I learned a lot about the team last year and we returned a lot of talent. Both teams had winning records (boys 6-2, girls 5-3) and both teams finished third at the LL League Championships.
"Our senior class were positive role models and very spirited, which pushed our underclassmen at meets," he continued. "Even though the numbers were down, especially on the boys' team, we had talent on both teams that I was able to place in all events. We really didn't have a weak link in any of the events which allowed for our success this season.
"We set two new team records, girls 200 medley and 400 free relay (Sugra, Shaub, Clow and Groff)," Urban pointed out. "Anna placed first in the 200 free at the League Meet. We had nine swimmers qualify for districts, including four relays, as compared to none last year."
BOWLING
The Comet bowlers competed in the Eastern PA Regional Championships Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2 at Leisure Lanes and Dutch Lanes where their seasons came to a close.
"We were hoping we could sneak someone through to states," said head coach Chris Vital. "But we struggled. We kind of struggled all year."
The singles championships took place on Friday with Gavin Davidson emerging as Manor's top finisher. "Gavin finished 24th," noted Vital. "He was on the bubble going into the last game. An 1135 series was the 12th and last series to advance. Gavin rolled a 1093."
Davidson rolled 200 or better in each of his first five games, including a 255 in the fourth game but was 42 pins shy of extending his season.
Also qualifying for the boys in singles play was Mark Smith, Derek Warfel, Jimmy Mahler and Evan Wright. Smith, a senior, was Manor's most consistent bowler this year. His highest game of the series was a 245 in the opening round. Smith finished 37th with a 1059 series.
Warfel's 978 was the third highest Comet total. The freshman rolled a 236 in his opening game. He was followed by Mahler, who settled for 158th while Wright, a sophomore, was 178th.
A total of 191 bowlers competed with the top 12 advancing to the stepladder finals.
In girls' action, Delaney Reitnauer rolled three games over 200 and recorded a 989 five game total that left her in 19th place out of 145.
"Delaney is just a sophomore," noted Vital. "I was impressed with her finish. She worked very hard to get there."
Katelyn Welsh rolled a 924 series and finished in 34th place and Willow Hee, with a 736, settled for 118th.
On Saturday the teams competed in the team portion of the tournament. Penn Manor's boys' squad, with a 3929, earned a 13th place finish out of 39 teams while the girls were 16th, with a 3108, in a field of 31.
"The top six teams advanced and Township earned that sixth spot with a 4165," Vital stated. "Ethan Keohana and Derek Warfel, both freshmen, did a nice job."
Also competing for the boys were Mahler, Welsh, Smith Davidson, and Graylin Hyson. Smith, with a three game 613 series and Welsh, with a 570, both rolled two games over 200.
Reitnauer's 506 was tops for the girls' side. Lisa Strausner followed with a 486 with Lisa Shroyer adding a 417. Also competing was Willow Hee and Ariana Cuba.
BASKETBALL
Officially wrapping up the basketball seasons was the announcement of the all-star teams. Freshman Morgan Miller is Manor's only first team selection. Ella Hart, Kate Levato, Kevin Roldan and Ty Erisman are all second team all-stars while Ethan Hine was voted as an honorable mention all-star.
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