YAIAA boys' swimming championships Day 2: Central York freshman defends home pool
Immediately after posing for pictures with his teammates, Central York's Alec Peckmann had to run and get a Band-Aid after cutting his finger on the case that held his medal.
It was the only thing that went wrong for the Panthers freshman in his first YAIAA championship meet, prompting his older brother Erik Peckmann to quip, "He's not invincible after all."
Alec Peckmann started Friday's boys' competition right where he left off the night before. He swam a 100-yard freestyle in 47.41 seconds, earning his a second individual gold in as many days.
"It felt really good. It felt like I have been waiting for this forever" said Alec, who set the pool record in winning the 200 free Thursday.
Yet, Alec wasn't finished there as he anchored the Panthers' 400 free relay that touched out Dallastown for YAIAA honors with a time of 3 minutes, 14.41 seconds. He combined with Erik, Jesse Tate and Will Hartzell to finish only .06 ahead of the Wildcats at the end of the two-day competition.
"I am so proud of my teammates. They did so well," Alec said. "I knew (the 400 relay) was close. I had no idea. I was just hoping."
With the celebration going on, Erik observed the scene.
"I feel like such a proud father right now," the senior said. "All of these guys are brothers to me. We train hard with them, and to see that pay off was great."
Erik doesn't mind the attention his younger brother has been getting — dating back to age group swimming — for several years.
"As long as it's a Panther, I am happy," he said.
NICE DROP LEADS NORTH TO DISTANCE GOLD >> Red Lion's Dylan North knew he was the favorite coming into the 500 free, but on Friday he also benefitted from the push of Tate throughout the race.
"It's fun swimming fast kids and Jesse was great. It always gets you going," North said. "I always base my races off who I am racing. That's why I like racing fast kids."
North dropped more than seven seconds and posted a season-best 4:44.58 to win gold in the event, which Tate came in second after dropping eight seconds off his seed time en route to a 4:47.45. Dallastown freshman Logan Brockway was third.
At the end of the meet, North was pleased with his team winning a bronze medal in the 400 free relay, pointing to freshman Jacob Lorenzen who has improved drastically this season.
"Jacob Lorenzen started the season swimming 57 (seconds for 100 yards). He did a 51 on that relay," North season.
STILL THE WILDCATS >> Dallastown's silver medal in the relay was more than a three-second drop for the Wildcats, and it was far from the only hardware won by the Dallastown boys.
Senior Noah Brockway won the 100 backstroke by more than two seconds faster than Hartzell after swimming a 53.16. Wildcats teammate Braedon Erne took bronze.
Grant Wertz, another freshman, scored a more than two-second victory in the 100 breaststroke after going 1:01.41, finishing in front of the Central tandem of Aaron Tate and Anthony Gemma.
YAIAA swimming championships
at Central York
100 free — 1. Alec Peckmann, CY, 47.41, 2. Matt Spinello, YS, 3. Alex Yokem, SW. 4. Dan Maxwell, SW, 5. Nolan Kling, SG, 6. Nico DeAngelo II, Get, 7. Tobias Kwasnjuk, Do, 8. Evan Mosko, Sus; 500 free — 1. Dylan North, RL, 4:44.58, 2. Jesse Tate, CY, 3. Logan Brockway, Dt, 4. Charles Baker, Dt, 5. Colin Sload-Diehl, RL, 6. Lucas Marsico, Dt, 7. Jacob Lorenzen, RL, 8. Logan Hyde, Get; 100 back — 1. Noah Brockway, Dt, 53.16, 2. Will Hartzell, CY, 3. Braedon Erne, Dt, 4. Nick Petrella, RL, 5. Ben Chu, CY, 6. Patrick Jacobson, Dt, 7. Alex Pecher, NO, 8. Nikos Koufos, Get; 100 breast — 1. Grant Wertz, Dt, 1:01.41, 2. Aaron Tate, CY, 3. Anthony Gemma, CY, 4. Matthew Lanius, RL, 5. Justin Culp, SG, 6. Gibson Porter, Sus, 7. Ben Spangler, WY, 8. Greg Landis, WY; 400 free relay — 1. Central York, 3:14.41, 2. Dallastown, 3. Red Lion, 4. Dallastown, 5. Central York, 6. York Suburban, 7. Dover, 8. Gettysburg.