The Blue Mountain 200 freestyle relay team of, from left, Porter Sarnes, Brody Moyer, Aidan Varney and Zach Scala finished fifth in the morning preliminaries Friday at the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships at Bucknell University (Photo by Leroy Boyer).

Schuylkill League boys’ swimmers shine in morning preliminaries

LEWISBURG — It was business as usual for Marian’s Michael Strucko.

For Brody Moyer and his Blue Mountain teammates, there was celebration.

The Schuylkill League secured three top-eight medals during Friday morning’s boys’ preliminaries on Day 1 of the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium.

Strucko was second in the 200-yard freestyle, dropping nearly two seconds from his District 11-winning time to finish in 1:41.56. Schuylkill Valley’s Owen Eisenhofer was first in 1:40.99.

Blue Mountain’s Porter Sarnes was 12th in the event in 1:46.99, qualifying for tonight’s consolation finals. North Schuylkill freshman Brendan Fetterolf was 30th in 1:52.44.

“I’m pretty happy with that,” said Strucko, who was seventh in the event at states last year. “The extra week and getting a nice, good taper has really paid off. I feel great out there. Didn’t get too tired, but I have a couple of things I can work on for tonight.

“I’m excited with how that went. Big time drop and I get to swim in a couple of hours. I’m excited.”

Moyer entered Friday’s 100 butterfly seeded 11th. Quick and aggressive from the start, he finished tied with York Suburban’s Mikey Foremsky for seventh in 52.58, securing his first individual medal and advancing to tonight’s finals.

Schuylkill Haven’s Ethan Miller was 22nd in the same race in 54.37. Jack Raimy of Erie Cathedral Prep was first in 49.72.

“It’s amazing,” Moyer said. “Coming in 11th … I knew I had to go fast. I’ve been working on it the past three weeks since districts. I felt better than I did at districts. Hopefully there’s room for more time drop later. I’m just happy to make A finals.”

Moments after learning he secured a medal in the 100 fly, Moyer teamed with Sarnes, Zach Scala and Aidan Varney to place fifth in the 200 freestyle relay prelims.

The Eagles were clocked in 1:29.38, .58 seconds faster than their District 11 time of 1:29.96.

Tunkhannock (1:26.07), Erie Cathedral Prep (1:26.67), Bishop McDevitt (1:28.18) and District 11 rival Allentown Central Catholic (1:28.81) finished faster than Blue Mountain.

“We worked on it a lot,” Moyer said of the relay medal. “When we come back, hopefully we can go a little faster and get a higher medal.”

Pottsville’s Noah Bevan also had a strong swim Friday, finishing 14th in the 50 freestyle in 21.88. A slow start put Bevan behind in his heat, but he rallied late to take fourth and nearly equal his District 11 time of 21.80.

He’ll compete in tonight’s consolations and can finish as high as ninth.

Bevan also swam a leg on Pottsville’s 200 freestyle relay, teaming with Killian Bressler, Jamison Walsh and John Mohl to place 23rd in 1:33.17.

After placing fifth at districts, the Pottsville quartet said afterward that they enjoyed the experience.

“It’s very fun because I get to hang out with friends and get out of school for two days,” Bressler said. “It’s nice here, nice pool, nice water and good food.”

Added Mohl, a sophomore: “This being my first states, we have great accommodations, we have a great team. I’m really glad I got to have this experience because we lose so many great swimmers next year and we might not be as well equipped.

“I’m so happy to be here … no matter my time, I’m happy to be here.”

The boys’ consolation finals and championship finals get under way at 4:30 p.m. The evening sessions will be broadcasted live by PCN.

PIAA Swimming Championships

Class AA Boys’ Preliminaries

Local results

200 freestyle — 2. Michael Strucko (Marian) 1:41.56; 12. Porter Sarnes (Blue Mountain) 1:46.99; 30. Brendan Fetterolf (North Schuylkill) 1:52.44

50 freestyle — 14. Noah Bevan (Pottsville) 21.88

100 butterfly — T7. Brody Moyer (Blue Mountain) 52.58, 22. Ethan Miller (Schuylkill Haven) 54.37

200 freestyle relay — 5. Blue Mountain (Sarnes, Scala, Varney, Moyer) 1:29.38; 23. Pottsville (Bevan, Bressler, Walsh, Mohl) 1:33.17

Notes: Strucko, Moyer and the Blue Mountain 200 free relay secure top-eight medals and will swim in Friday night’s championship finals. … By placing in the top 16, Sarnes and Bevan return for tonight’s consolations and can finish as high as ninth.

Girls’ preliminaries will start at 10:55 a.m., with boys’ diving to follow this afternoon at 12:40 p.m.