Casper units file, Abington Heights swimmers dominate on Day 1 – Scranton Occasions-Tribune

This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you possibly can go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/2026/02/27/d2-4-swimming-casper-sets-record-and-abington-heights-swimmers-dominate-on-day-1-of-championships/
and if you wish to take away this text from our web site please contact us

WILKES-BARRE – Jason Casper seemed ahead to and put in numerous hours of follow in preparation for the District 2-4 Class 3A Swimming Championships, trying to etch his title into the historical past books.

A yr after ending because the runner-up and simply wanting the meet file within the 100-yard butterfly, the decided Abington Heights senior ripped by means of the water on the Wilkes-Barre Catholic Youth Center. When he touched yards forward of the sector and his time flashed, he calmly gave a thumbs-up signal to his coaches and teammates.

His successful time of 51.16 seconds bettered the meet file of 51.52 set in 2017 by Hazleton Area’s Jorge Moncayo. It additionally served because the spotlight of Abington Heights’ gold rush on an thrilling Day 1 on Friday morning.

The championship meet concludes Saturday on the CYC at 11 a.m.

“I am really happy,” Casper mentioned. “Last season, I really wanted to get that district record. I was close, but I didn’t get it. This year, getting it means a lot to me.”

Led by Casper’s gold medal and record-smashing efficiency, Abington Heights athletes earned 4 golds within the ladies’ meet and three golds within the boys’ occasions.

The Abington Heights boys’ crew leads the standings with 165 factors, adopted by Hazleton Area (141) and Delaware Valley (117).

The Lady Comets are second general with 153 factors however lead the District 2 standings. Williamsport, the District 4 consultant, has 159 factors, with Tunkhannock in third (117).

“I am just so proud of everyone,” Casper mentioned. “The whole team did really well.”

Abington Heights fellow senior, Derek Williams, received the 50 free in a school-record time of 21.04.

“Ever since I started swimming in high school, I looked at the Abington Heights record board, and I would look at the 50 free and say, ‘Dang, that is fast,’ and I wanted that,” Williams mentioned. “I knew for districts that I needed to go quick. I knew this was my final district meet. I can’t thank my mother sufficient for supporting me. I thank my coaches and teammates, too, for all of their help to push me to be a greater swimmer.

“To get a school record, and a USA Futures Cut, and be a district champion is just awesome.”

Abington Heights began the boys’ meet with a triumphant race within the 200 medley relay. Casper, Williams, Geoff Stanton, and Charles Voytek held off a charging Williamsport to win in 1:37.71. The Millionaires timed in at 1:37.90.

“It was really nerve-wracking,” mentioned Voytek, who was the anchor leg for the Comets. “I get really nervous watching the entire race, knowing that I have to finish it off. To beat Williamsport was honestly great. I thought he might catch me, but I am glad that I held on.”

In the women’ meet, the Lady Comets began their parade to the highest of the rostrum within the 50 free. Gianna Vachino, who fought by means of an sickness earlier within the season, made a quick near win in 25.36 seconds. Williamsport’s Aviya Halstead was second (25.43), and Abington Heights’ Katie Giermanski, final yr’s champion, was third (25.48).

“It was so thrilling,” Vachino mentioned. “It is definitely a comeback on my part. I put a lot of work into this in the last two weeks. I had goals to achieve. It is my senior year, so I think I had a high note, and we still have a lot more work to do this weekend.”

Hadley Pallman received the Lady Comets’ second gold in a comparatively new occasion. Last yr’s champion within the 200 free, she powered to a win within the 100 butterfly with a time of 58.36. That was a giant enchancment from her seed time of 59.45 and was virtually three seconds away from Hazleton Area’s Lorelei Lucas, who received the silver in 1:01.17.

“A little after the Les Richards meet, my coach and I were talking, and I wanted to try something new,” Pallman mentioned. “I feel very good, because it is not one of my best events, and I tried really hard to win.”

Abington Heights completed the women’ meet by successful the 200 free relay. Vachino, Pallman, Giermanski, and Ella Bannon cruised to the gold in 1:42.29. Williamsport completed second in 1:46.78.

Boys golds

Wyoming Valley West’s Cole Bolesta and Williamsport’s Evan Summers broke up the Abington Heights dominance.

Bolesta received the 200 free (1:43.95) and teamed with William Bell, David Nelson, and Ricardi Albuquerque to win the 200 free relay in 1:30.82.

“I am really happy,” mentioned Bolesta, the silver-medal winner within the 200 free final season. “I have been giving every practice my all. I have been doing doubles; I have been lifting. (Last year) motivated me a lot. I went back to that video and watched it and looked at my mistakes. This year, I gave it my all.”

Summers, the District 4 champion, received the 200 particular person medley in 1:55.51. West Scranton’s Roy Ayala, the second-place finisher within the subregional, received the District 2 title with a time of 1:57.00.

Girls golds

Hazleton Area’s Lia Ochs received two gold medals in back-to-back occasions. She captured the 200 free (1:55.52) and joined teammates Kathleen Rodgers, Lucas, and Mariannyi Brache Minaya to win the gold within the 200 medley relay in 1:56.65.

“I had my relay with my friends, and we really just talked to each other before the relay,” Ochs mentioned. “I used to be ready for doing the back-to-back. I knew it will be like that. I did that previously.

“Our coach has been having us practice the second half of our races for a while, so I just put that to work. I made sure my kick was still moving toward the end. I just really wanted to bring it home.”

Tunkhannock freshman Kaitlyn Keown simply edged Wyoming Valley West’s Karissa Legaspi to win the 200 IM. Keown stretched to the wall in 2:17.80, with Legaspi ending in 2:17.90.

“I just really took it out there,” Keown mentioned. “I tried to sprint more of my breaststroke than I usually do, and it worked out pretty well. I was a little nervous before, but I needed to get more in the zone and calm down. I realized that if I were more calm, I would swim better.”