Baganski, Spring-Ford swimmers back up season title at PAC Championships; Methacton’s Lebold wins two

by dennis weller

KING OF PRUSSIA >> Spring-Ford had already won its first Pioneer Athletic Conference boys swimming championship with a 10-0 sweep of its league dual meet schedule. But the Rams added some icing to the cake on Friday night by placing first in six of the 11 events at the PAC Championships at Upper Merion High School.

Senior Patrick Baganski helped the Rams win all three relay races and set a school record while leading off the 200 free relay. He also set school and pool records while finishing first in the 100 back.

Methacton senior Christian Lebold was the only swimmer to win two individual events, finishing first in the 500 free and 100 breast. And Owen J. Roberts junior Colin Davis continued his dominance of the 100 free by finishing first with a pool record time and placed second to Baganski in the 100 back.

“We won the first PAC championship for our school,” said Baganski, referring to the regular season undefeated record which beat out Methacton’s 9-1 mark and the 8-2 season for defending champion Owen J. Roberts. “We have a good relationship as a team and Coach Jack (Graham) is really into it and energized. A lot of people dropped times.”

On Friday, Baganski swam in all three relays and one individual event instead of his usual two and two.

“We wanted to get some good times for districts,” he said.

He led off the 200 free relay with a time of 21.03 for his 50-yard leg, setting a new school record and the team that also featured Blaise Sadowski, Dylan Dayrit and Nate Reagan placed first with a time of 1:27.35. Baganski won the 100 back with a time of 52.10. He also holds the school record in the 100 free.

Last year, he was a PIAA Class 3A qualifier in the 50 free and the 100 back.

“I’m really happy with my times this year,” he said. “I’m excited to see what I can do this year.”

Owen J. Roberts' Colin Davis, center, Owen J. Roberts' Ethan Suessmuth, left, and Perkiomen Valley's Andrew Keenan took the top 3 spots in the 100 freestyle at the PAC Swimming Championships on Feb. 9 at Upper Merion. (Courtesy Dennis Weller) — Owen J. Roberts’ Colin Davis, center, Owen J. Roberts’ Ethan Suessmuth, left, and Perkiomen Valley’s Andrew Keenan took the top 3 spots in the 100 freestyle at the PAC Swimming Championships on Feb. 9 at Upper Merion. (Courtesy Dennis Weller)

Methacton's Christian Lebold, center, Spring-Ford's Justin Delp, left, and Spring-Ford's Kyle Kruppa took the top 3 spots in the 500 freestyle at the PAC Swimming Championships on Feb. 9 at Upper Merion. (Courtesy Dennis Weller) — Methacton’s Christian Lebold, center, Spring-Ford’s Justin Delp, left, and Spring-Ford’s Kyle Kruppa took the top 3 spots in the 500 freestyle at the PAC Swimming Championships on Feb. 9 at Upper Merion. (Courtesy Dennis Weller)

Methacton's Christian Lebold, center, Owen J. Roberts' Ethan Suessmuth, left, and Pope John Paul II's Dominic Testa took the top 3 spots in the 100 breaststroke at the PAC Swimming Championships on Feb. 9 at Upper Merion. (Courtesy Dennis Weller) — Methacton’s Christian Lebold, center, Owen J. Roberts’ Ethan Suessmuth, left, and Pope John Paul II’s Dominic Testa took the top 3 spots in the 100 breaststroke at the PAC Swimming Championships on Feb. 9 at Upper Merion. (Courtesy Dennis Weller)

Last year, Lebold qualified for states in the 500 free while learning from The Mercury All-Area Boys Swimmer of the Year Christopher Groff, who was the only senior on the team.

“He was actually my mentor,” said Lebold, one of six seniors on this year’s squad. “I really looked up to him. He taught me how to pace.”

This year, Lebold has had another good season in the 500 free.

“I am proud to be consistently under five minutes in the 500,” he said.

On Friday, he swam a 4:44.12, finishing just ahead of the 4:44.37 by Spring-Ford’s Justin Delp.

“I’m really satisfied with my times,” said Lebold. “This is actually the best I’ve been. I dropped one second in the 100 free and broke the pool record and knocked two seconds off my 500. I’m actually very grateful to be a part of the Methacton swim team.”

Last year, Davis placed first in the PAC, fourth in District 1 and 10th in the state in the 100 free. He defended his PAC title on Friday while swimming a pool record time of 46.52.

“I came to this meet with hardly any expectations,” he said. “Cheering on the upcoming class and showing them what Owen J. Roberts swimming is about. And focusing on some off events.”

Davis obviously wants to make it back to states and improve on his finishes the past two years.

“I didn’t do as well as I wanted to last year at states,” he said. “It’s going very well this season. I’ve dropped time in a lot of events. I’m fortunate to be where I am. I’ll just see what happens. I’ve been putting in the work.”

Other winners for Spring-Ford were Kyle Kruppa with a 1:43.71 in the 200 free, Nate Reagan with a 1:59.67 in the 200 IM, the 200 medley relay team in 1:37.60 and the 400 free relay team in 311.37.

Owen J. Roberts freshman Sam Vallino won the 50 free in 21.89 and Methacton’s John Du took first in the 100 fly with a time of 53.60.

The next stop for PAC swimmers will be the District 1 meet at the York YMCA on February 23 and 24.

PAC boys swimming results 2024