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Relay rout lifts Dallastown boys past Central


Over the past several years, Central York has been pushing YAIAA swimming powerhouse Dallastown, particularly on the boys’ side of the pool.

On Thursday evening, it was more of the same when the two got together in the Central natatorium: The Panthers took the boys’ meet to the final race.

Still, it's tough to take first and second in a relay, even for a team as talented as Central. And against a squad such as the Wildcats, it’s next to impossible.

Dallastown’s foursome of Jacob Stoner, Logan Brockway, Patrick Dunnigan and Spencer Hill not only won that 400-yard freestyle relay, but their time of 3:15.76 was more than 10 seconds faster than any race in a YAIAA meet this season.

That impressive swim helped the Wildcat boys hold on for a 100-86 victory, completing a sweep of the meet as Dallastown’s girls took a 128-57 decision.

“We haven’t had that blowout swim in that relay, until today. That’s a heck of a time at this point in the season,” Wildcats coach Rich Howley said. “It wouldn’t happen without Central and that rivalry. It’s pretty special.”

Hill broke his own Central pool record in the 100 butterfly (51.49), breaking the mark set at the YAIAA championships last season, but Panthers sophomore Alec Peckmann answered by taking down his own school mark in the 100 free with a 46.95, his second school record of the day.

A short while later, the Panthers won the 200 free relay, cutting the gap to 74-66 before Hill took the 100 backstroke. Central’s Jesse Tate followed with a school record time of 1:02.18, nudging out Dallastown’s Grant Wertz by only .02 in the 100 breaststroke to set up the final race.

“Today was more about the meet,” Hill said when asked about breaking his own record. “Meets like this are exciting. It makes you want to do your best.”

"He's a leader both in the pool and on land," Howley said of Hill.

The Panthers kept it close when Peckmann set his first school record of the day, winning the 200 individual medley in 1:56.35. Stoner answered for Dallastown in the 50 free, and after the diving points were awarded, the Wildcats led 41-37.

When asked how he thought the meet was going to turn out, Central coach Jim Gingrich was far from disappointed. In fact, he even predicted close to the final score, saying, “That was it.”

Brockway joined Hill and Peckmann with two individual wins, taking the 200 and 500 free races.

On the girls’ side, Kacey Oberlander (200 free, 500 free), Jena Woods (200 IM, 100 breaststroke) and Sydney Hoover (50 free, 100 fly) won two individual races apiece and were on a pair of victorious Wildcats relays.

The Dallastown girls not only won every race, but they also took second place in eight of those events, including a sweep in the backstroke.

Emily Salter (205.65) and Lindsey Chatterton (161.55) earned first and second place in the diving competition for Central. After those points were factored in, the Wildcats still maintained a big lead, 49-28.

Garrett Sommer won the boys’ diving for the Panthers with 196.20 points.

Boys' results

Dallastown 100, Central York 86

at Central York 

200 medley relay — 1. Dallastown (Spencer Hill, Grant Wertz, Jacob Stoner, Logan Brockway), 1:39.23. 200 free — 1. Brockway, Dt, 1:49.59, 2. Patrick Dunnigan, Dt, 3. Patrick O’Neill, CY. 200 IM — 1. Alec Peckmann, CY, 1:56.35, 2. Wertz, Dt, 3. Jared Hicks, CY. 50 free — 1. Stoner, Dt, 21.62, 2. Will Hartzell, CY, 3. Anthony Gemma, CY. Diving — 1. Garrett Sommer, CY, 196.20, 2. Nick Cappella, CY, 3. Dustin Jones, Dt. 100 fly — 1. Hill, Dt, 51.49, 2. Jesse Tate, CY, 3. Ben Chu, CY. 100 free — 1. Pckmann, CY, 46.95, 2. Stoner, Dt, 3. Ben Fisher, CY. 500 free — 1. Brockway, Dt, 5:01.57, 2. O’Neill, CY, 3. Dunnigan, Dt. 200 free relay — 1. Central York (Tate, Fisher, Hartzell, Peckmann), 1:31.93. 100 back — 1. Hill, Dt, 1:09.46, 2. Hartzell, CY, 3. Chu, CY. 100 breast — 1. Tate, CY, 1:02.18, 2. Wertz, Dt, 3. Gemma, CY. 400 free relay — 1. Dallastown (Stoner, Brockway, Dunnigan, Hill), 3:15.76.

Girls' results

Dallastown 128, Central York 57

200 medley relay — 1. Dallastown (Kacey Oberlander, Jena Woods, Sydney Hoover, Nancy Marston), 1:53.47. 200 free — 1. Oberlander, Dt, 1:55.84, 2. Rebekah Brown, Dt, 3. Kayla Swaltek, CY. 200 IM — 1. Woods, Dt, 2:15.86, 2. Isabella Wise, Dt, 3. Mackenzie Sopko, CY. 50 free — 1. Hoover, Dt, 25.67, 2. Sarah Hartman, CY, 3. Abigail McDermott, Dt. Diving — 1. Emily Salter, CY, 205.65, 2. Lindsey Chatterton, CY, 3. Kelsey Oswandel, Dt. 100fly — 1. Hoover, Dt, 1:00.97, 2. Lindsay O’Rourke, Dt, 3. Sarah Spinney, CY. 100 free — 1. Emma Balderson, Dt, 56.31, 2. Hartman, CY, 3. Swaltek, CY. 500 free — 1. Oberlander, Dt, 5:05.20, 2. Brown, Dt, 3. Sophie Stambaugh, CY. 200 free relay — 1. Dallastown (Hoover, Woods, McDermott, Marston), 1:45.47. 100 back — 1. Balderson, Dt, 1:02.00, 2. O’Rourke, Dt, 3. Kelsey Jacobson, Dt. 100 breast — 1. Woods, Dt, 1:09.46, 2. Wise, Dt, 3. Sarah Minich, CY