Shady Side outduels Franklin Regional for crew title, Hampton’s Lainey Sheets shines at PIAA Class 2A swim meet

By: Michael Love


Sunday, March 15, 2026 | 1:27 AM

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LEWISBURG — Franklin Regional and Shady Side Academy went forwards and backwards over the course of two hours Saturday night to resolve the PIAA Class 2A ladies swimming crew champion at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium.

Each crew captured medals. Shady Side junior Ava Jochims was golden once more within the 500-yard freestyle.

With Shady Side holding a slim lead over FR, the groups’ 400 free relays determined the winner.

The Bulldogs’ quartet of Jochims and freshmen Rachael Bummer, Ella Kiger and Elyse Brenenborg completed a detailed second (3 minutes, 31.17 seconds) to District 1’s Villa Maria Academy (3:31.11), whereas Franklin Regional’s crew of senior Magdalena Hull, junior Phoebe Boswell, freshman Anna Tomasic and junior Scarlett Zolnak took third (3:32.09).

When the relay factors had been distributed, a four-point lead grew to 6 (185-179), and Shady Side was the women state champion for the primary time in program historical past.

Shady Side coach Erika Cooper took a celebratory plunge along with her swimmers after receiving the crew trophy.

“It was a little cold, colder than I remember it being from 30 years ago when I last swam,” she stated. “It was great to be able to do that. I coach summer club and USA club, and my high school team has been bugging me to get in the water. I said they have to win something before I get in, so this is pretty special.”

The groups traded the lead a number of instances Friday.

Shady Side bought necessary performances from Bummer with a sixth within the 100 free (52.80) and Kiger with a sixth within the 100 breast (1:05.34).

Jochims captured her second straight 500 free state title in a time of 4:53.93 whereas standing on the highest of the rostrum with Brenenborg who positioned second (4:56.87).

“Kiger gave us some breathing room,” Cooper stated. “We were doing the math this afternoon to see where we were at. We were projecting some things out, and we thought it might be a couple of points either way. The girls had the lead going into the relay, but they still wanted to win that (relay) title. It was really tight.”

Franklin Regional helped its trigger with three medal finishes Saturday. Tomasic positioned fourth within the 100 free (51.78), Hull took eighth within the 500 free (5:12.93), and Zolnak completed sixth within the 100 again (58.81).

“I am so proud of these girls,” Panthers coach Dan Taylor stated. “It comes down to having fun, being with your teammates, swimming fast and competing. That’s all these kids did all weekend long. We were following the standings and seeing how everything was turning out after each event. With the numbers game, we were hoping to give ourselves a chance at the end. The relay raced their hearts out. It was such great competition both nights. It was a lot of fun.”

Shady Side edged Franklin Regional at Bucknell after FR took second and Shady Side third, behind Indiana, at WPIALs on Feb. 27 at Pitt.

Jochims stated it was good to have Brenenborg subsequent to her within the 500.

“It was a lot of fun to be beside each other in that race,” stated Jochims, who additionally claimed her second 200 particular person medley crown Friday.

“She was pushing me, and I was pushing her. Elyse swam an amazing time. I am just so happy for her.”

In the midst of the Shady Side Academy and Franklin Regional battle for crew gold, Hampton made a cost of its personal to 3rd general with 138 factors.

Talbots senior Lainey Sheets received her second state title in as many days with a primary within the 100 again (54.72) to associate with the 100 butterfly title she captured Friday. Add in her performances in two of Hampton’s relays, and PIAA officers chosen her as the women swimmer of the meet.

“I thought about it and wondered if it was possible,” Sheets stated. “I though it was based off points, and relays count. But I was totally shocked. There were so many amazing swimmers here.”

Sheets shared the 100 again championship warmth after which the rostrum with twin sister, Libby, who moved up from the eighth seed for the finals to fifth general (58.71). It was a particular second for the man Duquesne commit who Friday misplaced out on a spot within the finals within the 200 IM in a swim-off for eighth.

“It meant everything to me to be up on that podium with her,” Lainey Sheets stated. “Swimming alongside her my complete life, we bought higher collectively and had a lot enjoyable.

“Seeing myself perform well these past two days really showed my growth as a swimmer. Closing this chapter of my life, I am really happy with what I have accomplished, and I am excited to see what is to come.”

Those capturing particular person bronze medals Saturday night had been Winchester Thurston senior Thea Siegel within the 100 free (51.44), Northgate sophomore JoAnn Cook within the 100 again (57.37) and Southmoreland senior Allison Stinnett within the 100 breast (1:03.99).

Class 2A boys

Joshua Reed’s first PIAA particular person swimming championship Saturday night time within the Class 2A finals at Bucknell University capped a season that noticed the Indiana junior develop by means of adversity.

He has continued to swim and swim properly since a power kidney illness analysis just a few weeks earlier than the season started.

Reed introduced residence gold within the 100 free (46.06), reducing virtually a second from his time within the preliminaries.

He provides that gold medal to the silver he received within the 50 free Friday and the three relay championships he helped deliver residence from earlier PIAA swims.

“I am grateful to be able to come out here and have a great race,” Reed stated. “I am blessed to be surrounded by so much support from family, coaches and all my teammates. I’ve had a lot to work through, but there have been so many people in my corner helping me stay where I need to be.”

Reed was third within the 100 free final yr. He takes the 100 free championship baton from former Indians teammate Preston Kessler, who graduated in 2025 with three PIAA gold medals within the Class 2A 100 free. Kessler now swims on the Naval Academy.

“The first two years, I was racing Preston, one of my own teammates,” Reed stated. “Being able to carry on what he did for three years of his high school career, it means so much to me.”

Northgate senior Sam Cavanaugh was golden Saturday within the 500 free after successful the 200 IM on Friday.

He received the five hundred by virtually 5 seconds, touching the wall in a faculty document 4:30.08.

“I really wanted to be under 4:30. It was so close,” Cavanaugh stated. “I was a little bummed out at first, but then I was happy with dropping a good bit of time.”

Cavanaugh’s two state titles and runner-up finishes as a part of the Northgate 200 medley and 400 free relays put him within the operating for swimmer of the meet. That distinction, nevertheless, went to Schuylkill Valley senior Owen Eisenhofer who received gold in two relays, the 100 again and the 200 free.

Cavanaugh teamed with Nate Parker, Jakob Vranick, and Greyson McKelvey for second within the 400 free relay. The time of three:11.39 is a brand new college document by two seconds. The relay went 3:14.10 within the prelims and three:13.14 at WPIALs.

The 34 factors scored helped Northgate end a detailed battle for second. Erie’s Cathedral Prep received with 198 factors. Tunkannock from District 2 completed second (147 factors), whereas Schuylkill Valley from District 3 was third (141) and Northgate fourth (138).

Laurel Highlands senior Kasey Mahoney received his third PIAA medal within the 100 breast.

Fifth as a sophomore and fourth final yr, the Clarion commit led the WPIAL 100 breast contingent in third place with a time of 56.07. It was practically seven tenths of a second sooner than his prelim time and in addition was sooner than his third from WPIALs (56.64).

Michael Love is a TribDwell reporter masking sports activities within the Alle-Kiski Valley and the jap suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending 5 years on the Clearfield Progress. He could be reached at mlove@triblive.com.