LEWISBURG — Savannah Wilson climbed out of the pool, her Tamaqua blue nail polish gleaming in the bright lights of Kinney Natatorium.

The Blue Raiders senior star had a wide smile on her face as she looked up into the crowd in the balcony, one of those smiles that just oozed with satisfaction.

Wilson capped her stellar Tamaqua career with her best breaststroke race ever, placing fourth in 1:04.73 at the PIAA Swimming Championships at Bucknell University.

Seeded third after winning her third straight District 11 title in the event in 1:04.96, she went faster in both of her races Saturday, breaking her own school record both times. Wilson placed fourth in the morning prelims in 1:04.85, then went .12 seconds faster in the championship finals.

Wilson took home a seventh-place medal last year. This year, she was fourth.

“I’m very happy,” Wilson said. “It’s an amazing thing just to be able to do this sport.

“I’m really glad I ended my season with my fastest time ever. I dropped time in prelims, I dropped time in finals. This is my second state medal ... and I went up three places from last year. That’s pretty good if you ask me.”

Wilson started out a little slow over the first 25 yards but then picked it up through the middle portion of her race.

Schuylkill Valley’s Mabel Walborn took first in 1:03.10, followed by Maddie Lanzel of St. Mary’s (1:03.74) and Allison Stinnett of Southmoreland (1:03.99).

“Normally my first 25 is slower than the rest because I find my tempo after like the first 25,” Wilson said. “It’s just kind of the way I start my race. It works.”

Strucko’s strong finish

Sometimes in sports, the other team is just better than you. In swimming, sometimes there’s just another swimmer that’s better than you.

That ended up being the case Saturday for Michael Strucko, who took home bronze in the 100 backstroke in 49.83.

The Marian senior was second in the morning prelims in 50.03. Erie Cathedral Prep’s Jack Raimy posted the top prelim time at 49.90.

In the finals, Strucko and Raimy battled neck and neck for the first 25 yards before Schuylkill Valley’s Owen Eisenhofer emerged from a long underwater in the lead and didn’t let anyone catch him.

Eisenhofer, who was named the Class AA Boys’ Swimmer of the Meet, captured gold in 48.67. Raimy was second in 49.55.

“This is life. It’s a learning experience,” Strucko said. “It’s not a loss for me. I still have four years of swimming left and I’m going to have more moments like this.

“I learned a lot. I know what I have to work on to get better for the future. I had a lot of fun at this meet. I had a great high school career and I’m happy about that.

“Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.”

Silver lining

Michael Strucko’s younger sister Lydia captured a pair of silver medals over the weekend, placing second in both the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.

Lydia Strucko lost both races to the same swimmer, Hampton senior Lainey Sheets, who was selected as the PIAA Class AA Girls’ Swimmer of the Meet.

Friday, Sheets won the 100 fly in 54.00, with Lydia Strucko second in 56.01.

Saturday, Sheets took first in the 100 backstroke in 54.72, with Strucko right behind at 55.26. The two were also 1-2 in the morning prelims at 55.17 and 55.89, respectively.

“I’m really happy with my time,” Lydia Strucko said. “I went in with confidence, I was ready to go and I’m really happy with the drop.

“Lainey is a phenomenal swimmer and I think part of the reason why I was able to drop time was because I was against her. I’m honestly so thankful I had her as competition because I truly feel that just gave me that extra umph toward the end. I’m happy for both of us.”

A junior, Lydia Strucko showed marked improvement in the 100 backstroke this season, placing sixth in the event last year as a sophomore in 56.83.

The Schuylkill League’s best chance at a state gold medal next year, she said the work starts now towards that goal.

“Swimming is a year-round sport. I’m just going to continue to train hard,” Lydia Strucko said. “It starts now in order to prepare for next year. I’m just going to keep working hard and toning on all the little details. Hopefully next year we could see first place.”

PIAA Swimming Championships

At Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium

Saturday’s local Class AA results

GIRLS

100 backstroke - 2. Lydia Strucko (Marian) 55.26

100 breaststroke - 4. Savannah Wilson (Tamaqua) 1:04.73

400 freestyle relay - 24. Tamaqua (Brown, Behun, Wilson, Gormley) 352.26

Team Standings - 1. Shady Side Academy 185, 2. Franklin Regional 179, 3. Hampton 138, 4. Villa Maria Academy 131, 5. Scranton Prep 114, 17. Marian 34, 38. Mahanoy Area 16, 40. Tamaqua 15, 45. Blue Mountain 9, 48. Schuylkill Haven 7

BOYS

100 backstroke - 3. Michael Strucko (Marian) 49.83

Team Standings - 1. Erie Cathedral Prep 198, 2. Tunkhannock 147, 3. Schuylkill Valley 141, 4. Northgate 138, 5. Bloomsburg 108, 9. Blue Mountain 82, 21. Marian 33, 31. Pottsville 20