McConnell Wins Two Bronze; Beam Finishes Fourth at D6 Swimming Championships

Several other Tyrone swimmers posted personal best times at the District Championship Meet

Ben McConnell, Allison Hosko, Bryce Bauer, Abby Luensmann, Austin Quinn, Emily Beam, Collin Rhoades, Gwen Dougherty

Two Tyrone swimmers made it to the podium and nearly everyone dropped time as the Tyrone swim team ended the season strong last weekend at the District 6 AA Championship meet at Penn State’s University Park campus.

“I think we did really well overall,” said Lucia Isenburg, one of varsity swim team managers. “Ben McConnell and Emily Beam really stood out, and placed on the podium.”

Tyrone senior Emily Beam and Bishop Guilfoyle senior Ben McConnell led the way with three individual top four finishes.

BG senior Ben McConnell had two huge swims, placing third in both the 50 free and the 100 breaststroke.

McConnell’s time of 23.16 in the 50 free was a full second under his seed time. McConnell also dropped an astonishing four seconds in the 100 breast with a time of 1:04.96.

“I feel like I did pretty well,” said McConnell. “I dropped time and moved up a few seeds in my races, but it was sad because it’s the end of my high school swimming career.”

It was exciting to make podium especially for my senior year. It was a nice way to close up the season.

— Emily Beam

Beam had a great swim in the 100 butterfly, placing fourth overall with a personal best time with a 1:08.19. 

“It was exciting to make podium especially for my senior year,” Beam said. “ It was a nice way to close up the season.”

Beam also competed in the 100 free, where she placed 16th of 24 girls.

Only the top two finishers move on to the state championship meet at Bucknell University, so this was the last high school swim for Beam and McConnell.

Click the link below to view the official meet results:

2016 D6 Championship Results

The girls relay of Beam, Gwen Dougherty, Abby Luensmann and Allison Hosko dropped two seconds in the 200 medley relay. In the 200 free relay, the girls worked off four seconds.

Freshman Dougherty improved by two seconds in the 100 breast and placed 15th out of 22 other girls.

“The best part was swimming the 100 breast and being able to experience Districts as a freshman,” said Dougherty.

Luensmann dropped a second in the 50 free with a final time of 28.48.

Hosko swam in the 50 free and the 100 breast. She improved her 50 free time by six seconds and her 100 breast time by one second.

[Districts is an] experience of a lifetime that I’ll never forget.

— Ben McConnell

McConnell, Bryce Bauer, Austin Quinn and Collin Rhoades worked off six seconds in the 200 free relay. The boys placed sixth in the 400 free relay out of ten teams and dropped eight seconds.

Bauer placed 22nd out of 31 other competing swimmers. He dropped a second with a finishing time of 26.79.

Quinn swam in the 50 free and 100 free. He placed 26th in the 50 free and 21st out of 29 swimmers in the 100 free.

“[The team] overall performed pretty well,” said Quinn. “Most people dropped times.”

In the 200 free, Rhoades placed 14th out of 21 other competing swimmers. He dropped .56 seconds in the 100 free.

“I really love swimming and am excited for summer swim league,” said Beam, “and I hope to keep swimming after that.”

Graduating senior swimmers hope to keep swimming and wish the future team good luck. Returning swimmers can’t wait for next season and to see some new faces join the team.

“[Districts is an] experience of a lifetime that I’ll never forget,” McConnell said.