PIAA Boys’ Swimming: Powers, Kessler to square off for 100 free gold
Marian's Michael Strucko takes his mark to start the boys' 100-yard backstroke Thursday at the PIAA Swimming Championships. Strucko placed fifth in the morning prelims, securing his second medal and advancing to Thursday's championship finals (Photo by Leroy Boyer).
LEWISBURG — The final race of Noah Powers’ high school career will be the main event of the Class AA boys’ portion of the PIAA Swimming Championships.
The Blue Mountain senior secured his third medal of the two-day championships by placing second in Thursday morning’s 100-yard freestyle preliminaries at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium.
Powers cruised to victory in Heat 3 with a time of 46.32 seconds, which was second overall to Indiana’s Preston Kessler, who won Heat 4 in 44.27.
It sets up a rematch of last year’s 100 freestyle final, which Powers won 43.82-44.01. It also pairs the two top Class AA boys’ swimmers against each other.
Wednesday, Powers captured gold in the 50 freestyle in 19.83 seconds, while Kessler won the 200 freestyle in a state-record time of 1:37.82. They also squared off in the final leg of the 200 freestyle relay, with Powers going 19.55 and Kessler clocked in 19.85.
The boys’ finals begin at 7 p.m. and can be watched live on PCN-TV.
Powers isn’t the only Schuylkill League swimmer returning for the night session as Marian’s Michael Strucko clinched his second state medal by placing fifth in the 100 backstroke in 51.58.
Blue Mountain’s Porter Sarnes qualified for the consolation finals of the 500 freestyle after placing 10th in the morning preliminaries in 4:49.81.
Elsewhere in Thursday’s boys’ preliminaries:
** Schuylkill League swimmers who qualify for states for the first time often see their times get slower when they get to Bucknell. Depends on their taper.
For North Schuylkill’s Gavin Mentzer, his time in Thursday’s 100 freestyle preliminaries was exactly the same as his fourth-place-winning time at districts — 49.87 — a feat that is almost unheard of at the state meet.
Mentzer went out fast, going 23.55 seconds over the first 50 yards, before finishing in 26.32 seconds.
“This is exciting in general,” Mentzer said. “To be able to do this in the highest form of competition in the state is a blessing. It’s exciting overall to think that all the hard work that I’ve put in can be shown even at the highest level.”
Mentzer’s swim left him in 20th place, up from being seeded 25th. It also served as the capper for a solid high school career that saw him excel in both football and swimming despite a medical condition that puts limitations on what he can do athletically.
“I was hoping for higher aspirations,” Mentzer said. “Overall, I was seeded 25th and finished 20th, I couldn’t ask for anything better honestly. I’m proud of what I accomplished this season.”
