Bellefonte have strong showing at D6 swimming championships

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: March 1, 2020

By Kenny Varner

UNIVERSITY PARK – The Bellefonte swimming team had a strong weekend of action at the District 6 Class AA Swimming and diving championships at Penn State’s McCoy Natatorium.

Central Mountain also had strong finish in Class AAA by its swimmers despite not having anyone move onto state competition.

Bellefonte’s Finley Musser advanced to states with a first place finish of 2:18.93 in the girls 200-yard IM.

Teammate Natasha Hoffman finished second in the event with her time being 2:21.24.

The Wildcats started their day with a strong third place finish by Parker Orndorf who finished with a season-best time of 4:59.93.

Bald Eagle’s lone representative Alaina Cane finished first with a time of 55.00 in the 100-yard freestyle sending her to Bucknell.

In the same event, the Red Raiders Finley Musser finished fifth 57.72.

Bellefonte’s Kate Rarrick with a second place finish in the 5:16.03.

Bellefonte continued its medal winning into the 100-yard backstroke where Rianna Morris took home a second place finish of 1:19.25.

Hoffman finished fourth in the 100-backstroke 1:14.41.

Madison Bair and McKenna Fox finished fourth and fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke with times of 1:14.30 and 1:15.27.

On Friday, Bellefonte’s Kate Rarrick finishes second in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 158.66. It would be a season best time.

Teammate Finley Musser sealed herself a trip to state competition with a first I place finIsh in the 200-yard IM. Red Raider Natasha Hoffman placed second with a time of 2:21.24.

Rounding out things in fourth place was Penns Valley’s Margaret Delaney with a fourth place nod of 2:22.37.

Harrison Horner medaled in the boys portion of the event. Horner came into the meet with a 56.44 seed time, finished with a silver medal.

“ We had a few first place finishers and a couple second place finishers that we think are going to “, said Bellefonte coach Matt Horner. “I think we are going to get five swimmers at the state meet. We had 100 percent lifetime bests. It’s a pretty good success rate.”

BEA’s Cane finished with a third place finish with a time of 25.72.

Central Mountain started off Friday with a second place finish in the 200-yard relay with a time of 2:02.24. The team consisted of Madison Bair, McKenna Fox, Kylie Garman Olivia Rockey.

In the girls 200-yard freestyle, the Wildcats got a 4th place finis from Abby Dressler with a time of2:00.80.

Parker Orndorf came up strong for Central Mountain in the boys 200-yard freestyle with a third place finish of 1:48.96.

In boys 200-yard IM, the Wildcats Leisher Gugino posted a 5th place finish of 2:06.62.

Central Mountain finished fourth and fifth in the 50-yard freestyle as Olivia Rockey and Evie Rembold finished with times of 26.89 and 27.15, respectively.

Rounding out the day for the Wildcats was the girls 400-yard medley relay posting a third-place time of 3:54.50.

“We have medal winners but we didn’t get any to states. We had placewinners. But we did very well,” said Central Mountain Coach Jim Merinar. “It was a great meet. We just were’t able to break one through.”

Bellefonte Kate Rarrick finished second in the 200-yard freestyle with a mark of 1:58.66.

Rich took 6th in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:06.63.

On the boys’ side, Derek Hughes finished with a fifth place mark in the 100-butterfly with a time of 59.32.

Rounding out the day for the Wildcats’ girls was the 200-yard relay team consisting of Rockey, Hannah Brian, Evie Rembold and Mikayla Rich with a time of 1:54.35.

The season will conclude for the Bellefonte swimmers who are advancing to States at Bucknell University.