POTTSVILLE — Saturday marked the final time Schuylkill League swimmers would square off, chasing not only bragging rights and gold medals, but momentum heading into the District 11 championships.

Blue Mountain entered as the team to beat, but Tamaqua delivered a strong challenge. The Lady Blue Raiders piled up medals, especially in the relays, and pushed the favorites throughout the meet.

Tamaqua surprised spectators — and Blue Mountain — by winning the 400 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays.

Leading the charge was freshman Shaylee Gormley, who captured four gold medals in a breakout performance that hinted at a future beyond the high school level.

Marian also produced standout efforts, led by siblings Michael and Lydia Strucko, who combined for four gold medals.

In his final league meet, Michael Strucko set meet and pool records in the 100-yard backstroke, and won the 50-yard freestyle. He also helped Marian’s 400 freestyle relay finish third in 3:41.25, teaming with James Gomez, Reece Steibler and Andrew Metters.

Lydia Strucko added gold medals in both the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly.

A thrilling day

Gormley said she felt confident entering her individual events and anchored two relay teams.

The freshman won both the 50 and 100 freestyle. She captured the 50 by over a second, turning in a time of 25.22. She was equally impressive in the 100, posting a 55.90, which was more than two and a half seconds faster than the runner-up. Adding the relay victories was just as exciting for the freshman.

“I felt going in that I could win the event,” said Gormley, who swam anchor in two of three relay races. “Our team in the (200) relays is very strong. We just came together. (Blue Mountain) beat us this past Thursday, and that made us more determined to win.”

Senior Savannah Wilson also delivered a banner day for Tamaqua, rivaling Gormley’s medal count. Wilson broke the league meet record in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:07.31, and earned three gold medals overall, including two relay victories.

You could feel the excitement afterward, as the Blue Raiders celebrated poolside long after the races ended.

“She’s had her eyes on that record since last season,” said Tamaqua coach Jen Paisley, proudly complimenting the senior. “It was nice to see that one go down.”

“It wasn’t my best, but it’s the third year in a row that I got first,” Wilson said after the 100 event. “I did get a new league record. It was a pretty good day being a part of the relay team(s). We won all three relays, which was an amazing thing.”

Tamaqua opened its relay dominance by winning the 200 medley relay. Katie Behun, Wilson, Audrey Nattress and Ava Jones touched the wall in 1:57.39, aiming to break the school record of 1:55.

“There was some pressure in being the leadoff,” Behun said. “But no one ever said you need to get us the lead.”

The foursome’s main goal was to swim under two minutes, which they accomplished. Nattress, who swam the third leg, said the team stayed focused.

“I don’t think we were behind at all this year in the event. There was some pressure to maintain our league title.”

Jones, the anchor, knew the race was secure before she entered the water.

“My teammates gave me a pretty good lead, so I was focusing on a strong finish.”

Tamaqua followed with another relay victory in the 200 freestyle relay. Janna Brown led off, followed by Nattress, Jones and Gormley, as the quartet beat its seed time with a 1:47.27 finish. The Raiders capped the day by winning the 400 freestyle relay with Brown, Behun, Wilson and Gormley.

“At no point were we going to sit back and kind of coast,” Paisley happily pointed out about the performances of the relay teams. “We knew (coming) in we had to swim hard, we had to swim our best. They stayed focused, and knew exactly what they needed to do.”

Gormley recorded a 24.43 split in the 200 freestyle relay, and a 55.97 anchor leg in the 400 freestyle.

“In the 50, I definitely tried to approach it with the mindset of that I’m here, do your best, make the impression and get a really good time … and that’s what I did,” Gormley said. “I PR’d … I swam two tenths faster than my PR time ever.”

“This meet coming in is always a confidence boost going into districts,” Paisley said, “to see what they’re capable of … it gives them a boost. All the girls have the ability to excel.”

Marian siblings shine

Michael Strucko won the 50 freestyle in 21.89, and followed with a dominant victory in the 100 backstroke in 50.81, well ahead of Blue Mountain’s Brody Moyer (55.70).

“Experience over my four high school years (swimming) has allowed me to handle (pressure),” said the Marian senior. “I’ve learned to have fun.”

He said he was locked in before the 50 freestyle.

“I was really motivated and concentrated, Strucko continued. “I was very excited, and just happy to go fast.”

A state medalist last season, Strucko broke the league and pool records previously held by Blue Mountain’s Noah Powers.

“It was definitely very exciting,” Strucko said. “I’m just happy I got to go fast. It was my goal.”

Lydia Strucko also stood atop the podium twice. She won the 100 backstroke in 57.49, ahead of Lillian Brown of Mahanoy Area (1:00.50) and Tamaqua’s Behun (1:07.08).

“Getting ready this week has been pretty tough with all the snow, so I really didn’t get work in the way I like to,” Strucko mentioned.

She capped her day by winning the 100 butterfly in 59.78, well ahead of Schuylkill Haven’s Hope Stauffer (1:04.9) and Wilson (1:05.7).

“I really don’t have (lofty) expectations, the 100 fly was a new race for me,” said Strucko. “I just wanted to have fun. The atmosphere and the motive from the other girls to win fast made it fun. This meet … it’s been a tough week with the snow and I was away for a couple of days. I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be.

“I went in with a really positive attitude. The 100 fly was a new race for me. The past two years I did the 200 IM, so I wanted to have some fun doing something new. I went out, did my best and really used the atmosphere and motivation from the other girls to swim fast.”

FIRST TIME ... Marian’s boys captured their first-ever relay medal, finishing fourth in the 200-yard medley relay. The team included Bruce Stine, Elliot Wehr, Ethan Miller and Colton McClusky.

RECORD HOLDER ... Wilson set a new league record in the 100 breaststroke, breaking the previous mark of 1:07.50 set in 2008. Her new record stands at 1:07.31. She will swim at East Stroudsburg University in the fall.

ONLY ONE FELL ... The only new boys record set Saturday came in the 100 backstroke by Michael Strucko, breaking both league and pool records.

A STAR BORN ... Gormley, a freshman, won three gold medals in her first league meet. She also runs cross country, and had the option to play basketball.

GABE THE BLADE ... Blue Mountain senior Gabe Kamarousky earned two third-place finishes, and swam the second leg of the winning 400 freestyle relay. His father, Gabe Sr., starred in football at North Schuylkill and Kutztown.

THOUGHT TO PONDER ... Strucko broke a record previously held by Noah Powers, who went on to win a PIAA state title and now swims at the University of Virginia.

Schuylkill League Swimming Championships

At Ned Hampford Natatorium, Pottsville

GIRLS

Legend: Blue Mountain (BM), Mahanoy Area (Mah), Marian (Mar), North Schuylkill (NS), Pottsville (Potts), Schuylkill Haven (SH), Tamaqua (Tam)

200 medley relay - 1. Tamaqua A (Behun, Wilson, Nattress, Jones) 1:57.39, 2. Mahanoy Area A 2:03.24, 3. Schuylkill Haven A 2:09.16; 200 freestyle - 1. Hope Stauffer (SH) 2:03.47, 2. Laselva (Potts) 2:04.50, 3. Wolfe (NS) 2:09.05; 200 IM - 1. Alayna Hensel (BM) 2:22.33, 2. Blozousky (NS) 2:33.73, 3. Stone (BM) 2:35.30; 50 freestyle - 1. Shaylee Gormley (Tam) 25.22, 2. C. Stauffer (SH) 26.55, 3. (tie) Kaplafka (BM) and Brown (Tam) 27.12; 100 butterfly - 1. Lydia Strucko (Mar) 59.78, 2. H. Stauffer (SH) 1:04.19, 3. Wilson (Tam) 1:05.72; 200 freestyle relay - 1. Tamaqua A (Brown, Nattress, Jones, Gormley) 1:47.27, 2. Blue Mountain A 1:47.62, 3. Mahanoy Area A 1:50.83; 100 freestyle - 1. Shaylee Gormley (Tam) 55.90, 2. Wolfe (NS) 58.67, 3. C. Stauffer (SH) 58.68; 500 freestyle - 1. Lily Brown (Mah) 5:30.95, 2. Laselva (Potts) 5:37.22, 3. Lafko (BM) 5:49.05; 100 backstroke - 1. Lydia Strucko (Mar) 57.49, 2. Brown (Mah) 1:00.50, 3. Behun (Tam) 1:07.082; 100 breaststroke - 1. Savannah Wilson (Tam) 1:07.31 (meet record), 2. Hensel (BM) 1:11.73, 3. Van Orden (Potts) 1:18.64; 400 freestyle relay - 1. Tamaqua A (Brown, Behun, Wilson, Gormley) 3:53.12, 2. Blue Mountain A 3:59.82, 3. North Schuylkill A 4:16.68.

BOYS

Legend: Blue Mountain (BM), Mahanoy Area (Mah), Marian (Mar), North Schuylkill (NS), Pottsville (Potts), Schuylkill Haven (SH), Tamaqua (Tam)

200 medley relay - 1. Pottsville A (Maroukis, Walsh, Mohl, Bevan) 1:46.33, 2. Blue Mountain A 1:49.96, 3. Schuylkill Haven A 1:59.92; 200 freestyle - 1. Porter Sarnes (BM) 1:50.89, 2. Fetterolf (NS) 1:53.32, 3. Kamarousky (BM) 1:56.44; 200 IM - 1. Ethan Miller (SH) 2:03.99, 2. Nester (BM) 2:11.14, 3. E. Varney (BM) 2:21.29; 50 freestyle - 1. Michael Strucko (Mar) 21.89, 2. Bevan (Potts) 22.79, 3. A. Varney (BM) 23.54; 100 butterfly - 1. Brody Moyer (BM) 54.63, 2. Nester (BM) 58.66, 3. Mohl (Potts) 58.79; 200 freestyle relay - 1. Blue Mountain A (Sarnes, Scala, A. Varney, Moyer) 1:31.89, 2. Pottsville A 1:35.50, 3. North Schuylkill A 1:37.50; 100 freestyle - 1. Noah Bevan (Potts) 50.10, 2. A. Varney (BM) 51.52, 3. Kamarousky (BM) 52.615; 500 freestyle - 1. Porter Sarnes (BM) 4:58.54, 2. Fetterolf (NS) 5:07.56, 3. Magdeburg (BM) 5:15.93; 100 backstroke - 1. Michael Strucko (Mar) 50.81 (league, meet, area, pool record), 2. Moyer (BM) 55.70, 3. Mentzer (NS) 1:00.96; 100 breaststroke - 1. Ethan Miller (SH) 1:02.63, 2. Scala (BM) 1:08.43, 3. Walsh (Potts) 1:10.16; 400 freestyle relay - 1. Blue Mountain A (Sarnes, Kamarousky, A. Varney, Moyer) 3:24.24, 2. North Schuylkill A 3:35.99, 3. Marian 3:41.25.