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Tigers race past Altoona

The Hollidaysburg-Altoona varsity swimming meet has customarily been held in mid-January.

This year, it was moved up to the beginning of the season, and the switch suited Hollidaysburg quite well.

Hollidaysburg used several double-victory performances to post a Central Western Aquatics Athletic Conference sweep Monday night at the Altoona Area High School Natatorium, with the Hollidaysburg boys topping Altoona, 105-63, and the Hollidaysburg girls prevailing, 127-42.

The Hollidaysburg boys (1-0-1) got two individual victories in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly from junior Conor McKeirnan, while the Hollidaysburg girls (1-1) got double-victory performances in the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle from Allison Black, the 500 freestyle and 200 freestyle from sophomore Aggie Hoover, and the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley from sophomore Katie Turner.

Veteran Hollidaysburg coach Deb Solomon was appreciative of her team’s performance.

“It was a nice meet,” Solomon said. “I think it’s always been a nice rivalry, and it’s interesting this year because it’s early in the season — we usually see them later, when every one is in better shape.

“I also have a lot of new kids on the teams who got some more experience tonight,” Solomon said. “That was really nice for them.”

For the Hollidaysburg boys, McKeirnan was part of four first-place finishes. He won the 50 freestyle in 22.93 and the 100 butterfly in 55.79, and also swam legs on both the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay teams.

“I felt like I was swimming pretty strong,” McKeirnan said of his two individual victories in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. “Right now, for the beginning of the season, it’s fine, but I’m not really satisfied. I could do better later.”

Black also had a stellar performance for the Lady Tigers’ girls team, winning the 100 freestyle in 1:02.51, the 100 breaststroke in 1:18.80, and competing in legs on both the winning 200 medley relay and 400 free relay squads, which won in 2:09.50 and 4:17.36, respectively.

“I’ve been working hard in practices and pushing myself as hard as I can in my races,” Black said. “I always try to work my turns and have a good finish.”

Hoover won the 500 freestyle in 6:21.55 and the 200 freestyle in 2:22.93 for the Hollidaysburg girls. She said that self-confidence played a role.

“I felt really good,” Hoover said. “I had positive thoughts (during the races).”

Tinker, another sophomore, won the 200 individual medley in a time of 2:33.91 and the 100 backstroke in a time of 1:16.49 for the Hollidaysburg girls. She also competed in a leg on Hollidaysburg’s victorious 200 free relay team, which finished in 1:56.16.

“I felt pretty good,” Tinker said. “I think I had a lot more energy than I usually do. My teammates were so supportive today. They really helped me out.”

For the Hollidaysburg boys, freshman Tyler Gnegy won the 500 freestyle in 5:41.71 and competed in legs on both the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay teams, which won in respective times of 1:55.59 and 3:50.48.

For the Hollidaysburg girls, sophomore Megan Dinges won the 50 freestyle in 27.62 and also participated in legs on both the 200 free relay and 400 free relay teams, and junior Mia LeCrone won the 100 butterfly in 1:17.49 and was part of the victorious 200 medley relay team, which won in 2:09.50.

It was the season-opening meet for both the Altoona boys and girls teams. The Altoona boys got a first-place time of 1:11.91 in the 100 breaststroke from junior Rusty Focht, who also participated on the victorious 200 free relay team that won in 1:44.17.

First-year Altoona coach Nanette Cummings said that her team is striving for improvement.

“It was a good effort, but we have a lot of new kids on our team, and a lot of improving to do,” Cummings said.

Hollidaysburg visits Somerset Wednesday night, and Altoona hosts Ligonier Valley the same night.

BOYS

HOLLIDAYSBURG 105, ALTOONA 63

200 medley relay: 1, Hollidaysburg (Gnegy, Paul, McKeirnan, Helsel), 1:55.59; 2, Hollidaysburg, 2:05; 3, Altoona, 2:18.41. 200 freestyle: 1, D. Kratzer, A, 2:04.97; 2, Bouchard, H, 2:13.09; 3, Bryan, H, 2:28.92. 200 IM: 1, Roberts, H, 2:28.84; 2, Paul, H, 2:40.87; 3, Weaver, A, 2:53.43. 50 freestyle: 1, McKeirnan, H, 22.93; 2, Markel, A, 25.57; 3, Bailor, A, 27.33. 100 butterfly: 1, McKeirnan, H, 55.79; 2, Focht, A, 1:08.79; 3, Nagle, H, 1:15.37. 100 freestyle: 1, Markel, A, 58.44; 2, Bouchard, H, 1:00.93; 3, Burns, H, 1:01.89. 500 freestyle: 1, Gnegy, H, 5:41.71; 2, D. Kratzer, A, 5:52.30; 3, Helsel, H, 6:29.66. 200 free relay: 1, Altoona (I. Kratzer, Focht, Markel, D. Kratzer), 1:44.17; 2, Hollidaysburg, 1:44.43; 3, Altoona, 1:57.58. 100 backstroke: 1, Gnegy, H, 1:08.45; 2, I. Kratzer, A, 1:12.35; 3, Roberts, H, 1:15.52. 100 breaststroke: 1, Focht, A, 1:11.91; 2, Paul, H, 1:15.22; 3, Grabill, H, 1:21.01. 400 free relay: 1, Hollidaysburg (Helsel, Roberts, Gnegy, McKeirnan), 3:50.48; 2, Altoona, 4:03.42; 3,Hollidaysburg, 4:19.12.

GIRLS

HOLLIDAYSBURG 127, ALTOONA 42

200 medley relay: 1, Hollidaysburg (Black, Imler, LeCrone, Hileman), 2:09.50; 2, Hollidaysburg, 2:15.41; 3, Altoona, 2:32.65. 200 freestyle: 1, Hoover, H, 2:22.93; 2, Black, H, 2:25.91; 3, Frazier, H, 2:33,95. 200 IM: 1, Tinker, H, 2:33.91; 2, Milliron, A, 2:48.17; 3, Imler, H, 2:51.26. 50 freestyle: 1, Dinges, H, 27.62; 2, Kratzer, A, 29.65; 3, Hatch, A, 29.98. 100 butterfly: 1, LeCrone, H, 1:17.49; 2, Fisher, H, 1:24.07; 3, Frazier, H, 1:24.69. 100 freestyle: 1, Black, H, 1:02.51; 2, Holtz, H, 1:07.66; 3, Hatch, A, 1:08.74. 500 freestyle: 1, Hoover, H, 6:21.55; 2, Vyborny, H, 6:34.23; 3, Hileman, H, 6:40.51. 200 free relay: 1, Hollidaysburg (Dinges, Tinker, Campbell, Hileman), 1:56.16; 2, Hollidaysburg, 2:01.31; 3, Altoona, 2:02.35. 100 backstroke: 1, Tinker, H, 1:16.49; 2, LeCrone, H, 1:20.73; 3, Murphy, A, 1:22.95. 100 breaststroke: 1, Black, H, 1:18.80; 2, Imler, H, 1:21.50; 3, Kratzer, A, 1:25.17. 400 free relay: 1, Hollidaysburg (Hileman, Campbell, Black, Dinges), 4:17.36; 2, Hollidaysburg, 4:27.62; 3, Altoona, 4:42.21.

Records: Hollidaysburg boys (1-0-1); Hollidaysburg girls (1-1); Altoona boys (0-1); Altoona girls (0-1).

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