MIfflin County swimmers battle but falls to Little Lions

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: December 13, 2019

Swimming

Girls: State College 105, MIfflin County 56

Boys: State College 113, MIfflin County 6

By Kenny Varner

BURNHAM – One of the intangibles that the MIfflin County swim team will bring to the table this season comes from its spirit and intensity.

Competing this season with some new faces and low numbers, the Huskies showed that heart Thursday against the deep and veteran State College team.

The Little Lions took the girls contest 105-56 and the boys won 113-6.

MIfflin County is currently posting a boys’ roster of one, Ethan Andrews.

Andrews places in both events, posting a fourth place in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:05.80 and a second place time of 1:02.44 in the 100-yard backstroke.

There is also a new coach at the helm in Aaron Shepherd. Shepherd was proud of the effort he got from his team Thursday.

“The girls battled pretty well. We put kids in a lot of different events to see what we’re going to do,” said Shepherd. “I’m really proud of the girls. We get up and race hard in practice and it’s showing in the meets. We still got some soft skills to work on, hitting off the walls and tighter streamlines.”

Leading the way for the Huskies on the night was Ella Stuck in the grueling 500-yard freestyle where she finished with a top time of 5:50.82 and Hannah Bonson as she captured two first place finishes of her own. In the 50-yard freestyle she dominated the field with a winning time of 26.93.

In the 100-yard freestyle, Bonson took top honors with a time of 57.14.

They also helped lead her team to a top finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Along with Stuck, her teammates were Maddie Baisey and Grace Kauffman posting a winning time of 4:17.52.

Early in the match, the Lady Huskies finished second in the girls 200-yard medley relay. The group consisting of Baisey, Bonson, Kauffman and Isabella Ziegler finished with a time of 2:12.20.

Baisey was successful in the 200-yard freestyle with a third place finish of 2:32.51.

Teammate Rachel King finished with a fourth place finish of 2:43.19.

In the girls 200-yard IM, Stuck finished a solid second place time of 2:26.23.

The 200-yard freestyle team consisting of Ziegler, Gracee Tate, Becca Montgomery and Rachel King posted a time of 2:18.77 good enough for a third place finish.

Kauffman captured a third place in 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:17.81.

She also notched a third place in the 100-yard breaststroke posting a 1:31.00.

MIfflin County will be back home Tuesday as they battle Camp Hill.