The way the Tamaqua boys swim team came out splashing Thursday afternoon might have been a surprise to a lot of onlookers, but not to coach Jen Paisley.

Paisley expects the Blue Raiders to be much stronger than they have been in recent seasons, and they didn’t disappoint with a sterling 90-64 Schuylkill League victory over visiting Pottsville.

Tamaqua wasn’t as successful in the girls meet as the Crimson Tide posted a 98-72 victory.

Depth helps Raiders

What turned the tide against the Tide in the boys meet was Tamaqua’s depth. The Raiders accumulated key points with second and third place finishes which proved vital to the win.

Tamaqua also came up with a sweep in the 400 freestyle relay. The team of Jathan Krall, Brandon Long, Alex Nattress and Alex Zehner roared to the finish line in a time of 4:41.22 to pick up eight team points, while teammates Ben Hehn, Jesse Gormley, Loki Anderson Hill and Vincenzo Valentine grabbed second place for another four points.

Krall had a standout meet as in addition to leading the way in the freestyle relay, he added individual firsts in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.

“We knew we were going to be solid in the freestyle events,” Paisley said. “This was a big test for our boys. Pottsville has some great athletes. “Jathan had a great performance. He’s a strong distance swimmer and also a big part of our relay team. Stephen Behun added a great swim in the 100 freestyle. It was his best time (55:99). He was also strong in our relays, and did a nice job in the 100 breast stroke too.”

Long added a first-place finish in the 100-backstroke in a time of 1;15.36, while teammate Jack Tharp picked up a win in the 100-butterfly as Tamaqua captured its league opener and improved to 3-1 overall.

Tamaqua girls fall

Pottsville used the talents of Taleah Ruben, a returning District 11 standout, to prevent a Raider sweep.

Ruben was impressive in capturing the 200 IM in a time of 2:24.14, beating back Tamaqua’s Lexi Buchala, who finished second in the event with a time of 2:38.82. Ruben also claimed the 100 butterfly in a time of 1:01.84.

The highlight of the meet for the Raiders was a sweep in the 500 freestyle as Gabby Blasko, Isabella Jones and Emily Kohlmeir finished 1-2-3 in the grueling event. Blasko had a winning time of 6:24.82.

“Our girls held their own,” Paisley said. “The 500 freestyle is our best event, and you saw why today. That was a strong performance.

“I was proud of the way the entire team competed and swam. We are going to get better.”

Rylee Wenzel had a strong outing overall. She had second-place individual finishes in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle, and was part of the 200 free relay team which finished second.

In addition to her runner-up finish in the 500 free, Jones also added a second-place finish in the 200 freestyle.

BOYS

Tamaqua 90, Pottsville 64

200 Medley Relay - 1. Pottsville 1:58.68; 200 Freestyle - 1. Jathan Krall (T) 2:08.24, 2. Caden Wright (P), 3. Jesse Gormley (T); 200 IM - 1. Zach Ott (P) 2:25.26, 2. Jack Tharp (T); 50 Freestyle - 1. Vincent Prestileo (P) 24.93, 2. Xander Hirsch (P), 3. Jacob Hehn (T); Diving - 1. Henry Mohl (P) 120.0; 100 Butterfly - 1. Jack Tharp (T) 1:10.48; 100 Freestyle - 1. Stephen Behun (T) 55.99, 2. Xander Hirsch (P), 3. Brandon Long (T); 500 Freestyle - 1. Jathan Krall (T) 5:57.30, 2. Caden Wright (P), 3. Alex Zehner (T); 200 Freestyle Relay - 1. Pottsville 1:42.24; 100 Backstroke - 1. Brandon Long (T) 1:06.48, 2. Alexander Nattress (T), 3. Hunter Chescavage (P); 100 Breaststroke - 1. Zach Ott (P) 1:08.98, 2. Vincent Prestileo (P), 3. Stephen Behun (T); 400 Freestyle Relay

- 1. Tamaqua (Jathan Krall, Brandon Long, Alexander Nattress, Alex Zehner) 4:41.22.

GIRLS

Pottsville 98, Tamaqua 72

200 Medley Relay - 1. Pottsville 2:08.47; 200 Freestyle - 1. Elena Martinko (P) 2:21.13, 2. Isabella Jones (T), 3. Elizabeth Chattin (P); 200 IM - 1. Taleah Ruben (P) 2:24.14, 2. Lexi Buchala (T), 3. Elizabeth Martinko (P); 50 Freestyle - 1. Livia Hable (P) 28.79, 2. Rylee Wenzel (T), 3. Adalia Laselva (P); 100 Butterfly - 1. Taleah Ruben (P) 1:01.84, 2. Adalia Laselva (P), 3. Lexi Buchala (T); 100 Freestyle - 1. Elena Martinko (P) 1:02.31, 2. Rylee Wenzel (T), 3. Livia Hable (P); 500 Freestyle - 1. Gabby Blasko (T) 6:24.82, 2. Isabella Jones (T), 3. Emily Kohlmeir (T); 200 Freestyle Relay - 1. Pottsville 1:51.82; 100 Backstroke - 1. Katie Painter (P) 1:15.36, 2. Gabby Blasko (T), 3. Madison Wright (P); 100 Breaststroke - 1. Lily McNutt (T) 1:21.02, 2. Jillian Horvath (P), 3. McKenna Ehrig (T); 400 Freestyle Relay

- 1. Pottsville 4:14.68.