While we know where every journey begins, we never really know where it will end.
The week of March 13th, despite Mother Nature's snowy detour, our 2016-17 journey came to an end at Bucknell University where Nicole Andrews, Katelyn Boyce, Lauren Eby, Rachel Eby, Kate Luft and Larissa MacDougall represented our team at the 2017 Girls AA State Swimming and Diving Championships.
Before I go into the details of what we achieved, I want to thank the loyal Northern fans - including my wife, Eleanor - who drove to and from Lewisburg, braving the elements and standing in line to support us and cheer us on. I also want to thank our Assistant Athletic Director, Mr. Brian Wilson, for being there on Friday to root for, and support, us. I need to thank the Boosters for keeping us nourished by paying for our meals and Mr. Schwille for very generously paying for our hotel rooms and providing transportation for us. I need to tell Coaches Jen Eby and Diane Ahearn how great it was having them at States and how much I appreciate everything they do!
In terms of what we achieved in the pool, we had seven swims at States (three relays and four individual swims) and we either kept our seed going into the meet or improved it in six of the seven swims! That's impressive. Here are some of the highlights achieved by our team of six young ladies:
* We posted four Career Best Times!
* The 200 Medley Relay Team of Lauren, Nicole, Larissa and Katelyn improved on their seed, going in seeded 22nd and finishing in 21st Place!
* In the 200 IM....Katelyn improved on her seed, finishing in 27th (she went in seeded 30th)....and Kate Luft went in seeded 8th, dropped over 2 seconds and captured the 5th Place State Medal, setting a new Northern School Record in the process and earning All-State Recognition!
* In the 200 Free Relay, the team of Nicole, Katelyn, Rachel and Kate finished in 16th Place, which earned them All-State Honorable Mention Recognition!
* On Day 2, in the 100 Backstroke, Kate went in seeded 2nd to District 3 Champion Courtney Harnish and on the second 50 she fought off Marlee Rickert from Schuylkill Valley (of District 3) to keep her seed and capture the State Silver Medal! In the process, she earned additional All-State recognition!
* Nicole Andrews came into the 100 Breaststroke seeded 30th and improved on her seed by finishing in 28th Place in the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania!
* In the final event, the 400 Free Relay, our time from Districts put us in the 19th seed position going in. The team of Rachel, Katelyn, Nicole and Kate closed out the 2017 State Championships by capturing 16th Place and, again, earning All-State Honorable Mention recognition!
* Our team of six girls finished in 20th Place for all AA Girls Teams from across Pennsylvania! The only teams from District 3 above us in the final team standings are Schuylkill Valley (District Champion) and West York (District Runner-Up).
It was a wonderful, exciting, fulfilling way to end our 2016-17 journey.
Thanks to everyone for another great Northern Swimming and Diving season!
