Brian Hagberg
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Warren swim team came home with three medals from the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships at Bucknell University Friday and Saturday.
Katie Beyer won a silver and a bronze in swimming, while Katie Madigan took diving bronze in the Class 2A girls championships. Teammate Hugh Harrison had a top-10 finish and set a school record during the Class 3A boys competition on Wednesday and Thursday.
Beyer narrowly missed repeating as the 200 freestyle champion on Friday, as she finished second to Northgate’s Elise Nardozzi. Nardozzi won the race with a time of 1:49.09, Beyer came in second with 1:50.91 with Shady Side Academy’s Maeve Kelley third at 1:52.71.
On Saturday, Beyer won her second state bronze in the 100 free. Mt. Pleasant freshman Lily King won the event with a time of 49.78, Nardozzi was second at 50.43, and Beyer third at 51.49.
Beyer ends her high school career as a four-time state medalist, a gold and a silver in the 200 free and a pair of bronze in the 100 free. She’ll continue her career at St. Bonaventure University.
Madigan joined Beyer on the medal stand Saturday with a third-place finish in girls’ diving. Madigan, who finished fourth in the state last year, was in that position after the semi-finals just six points behind Bethlehem Catholic’s Anna Petke.
Madigan saved her best for last and finished 14 points ahead of Petke for third (393.65 – 379.50). Marple Newtown’s Alexandra Pastris took first with 431.65 points, while North Catholic’s Maggie Foley was second with 420.55 points.
Madigan, who took up diving as a sophomore, will end her career with a pair of top-5 finishes at states. She’ll continue her diving career at Clarion University next year.
Harrison took to the pool on Wednesday and Thursday. He finished 13th in the 200 Individual Medley in a school-record time of 1:55.00. His was the best finish of the day for any of the District 10 swimmers competing.
On Thursday, he tied for 10th in the 100 backstroke with Penn Trafford’s Patton Graziano. Again, the only D10 swimmer to place in the top-10 for the day.
