The Tyrone High School boys and girls swim team traveled to McCoy Natatorium at Penn State University to compete in the PIAA District 6 Swimming Championships. 

The boy’s team placed 6th out of eleven teams and the girls placed 12th out of twelve teams.

“We had an exceptional performance at districts this year.  Nearly every swimmer dropped their times and the few that didn’t maintained their best times,” said Tyrone head coach Tom Getz. 

The boy’s team consisted of six athletes: Bellwood senior Brandon Buss, Bellwood junior Spencer Dunklebarger, Bishop Guilfoyle Isacc Yeskey, Tyrone Freshmen Lucas Bonsell and Dylan Eckenrode, and Bellwood freshman Cameron Gallagher.

Buss competed in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle. In the 50, he placed 3rd in his heat and 15th overall with a time of 25.95. He was seeded 13th with a time of 25.84. In the 100, he once again placed 3rd in his heat and 17th overall with a time of 58.62. He was seeded 15th with a time of 59.17 seconds.

Dunklebarger competed in the 200-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle relay, 100-yard freestyle, and 100-yard breaststroke. In his 100 free, he placed 6th in his heat and 6th overall with a time of 52.52. He was seeded 5th with a seed time of 54.23 seconds. In his 100-yard breaststroke, he placed 1st in his heat and 6th overall with a time of 1:10.38. He was seeded 7th with a time of 1:13.44.

Yeskey competed in the 200-yard medley relay, 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle relay, and the 100-yard freestyle. In his 50, he placed 5th in his heat and 12th overall with a time of 25.07. He was seeded 11th with a time of 25.46. In his 100, he placed 3rd in his heat and 10th overall with a time of 55.32. He was seeded 11th with a time of 58.14.

Bonsell competed in the 200-yard medley relay, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard freestyle relay, and 100-yard backstroke. In his 100 butterfly, he placed 6th in his heat and 6th overall with a time of 1:03.10. He was seeded 5th with a time of 1:03.87. In his 100 backstroke, he placed 4th in his heat and 11th overall with a time of 1:09.81. He was seeded 9th with a time of 1:10.11.

Eckenrode competed in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke. In his 50, he placed 6th in his heat and 24th overall with a time of 26.96. He was seeded 15th with a tie of 26.46. In his 100 back, he placed 1st in his heat and 12th overall with a time of 1:09.95. He was seeded 16th with a time of 1:14.64.

Gallagher competed in the 200-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle relay, and 100-yard freestyle. In his 200, he placed 3rd in his heat and 9th overall with a time of 2:08.08. He was seeded 8th with a time of 2:12.55. In his 100, he placed 2nd in his heat and 14th overall with a time of 56.56. He was seeded 17th with a time of 1:00.48.

The boy’s 200-yard medley relay, which consisted of Yeskey swimming the backstroke, Dunklebarger swimming the breaststroke, Bonsell swimming the butterfly and Gallagher swimming the freestyle, placed 3rd in their heat and 3rd overall with a time of 1:54.41. They were seeded 4th with a time of 1:57.19. Additionally, the boys were placed high enough to make it to the podium in this event. 

For the girl’s team, four athletes went to districts: Tyrone senior Kirsten Friday, Bellwood junior Evalyna Aiken, Bellwood sophomore Ireland Cherry and Tyrone sophomore Sophia Cowher. 

Friday competed in the 200-yard medley relay, 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle relay, and 100-yard freestyle. In her 50, she placed 3rd in her heat and 22nd overall with a time of 29.71. She was seeded 24th with a time of 29.95. In her 100, she placed 6th in her heat and 24th overall with a time of 1:05.52. She was seeded 24th with a time of 1:06.46. 

Aiken competed in the 200-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle relay, 500-yard freestyle, and 100-yard backstroke. In her 500, she placed 6th in her heat and 14th overall with a time of 6:26.79. She was seeded 12th with a time of 6:31.20. In her 100 backstroke, she placed 4th in her heat and 15th overall with a time of 1:16.02. She was seeded 12th with a time of 1:15.55.

As for the relays, the girl’s 200-yard medley relay consisting of Aiken swimming the backstroke, Cowher swimming the butterfly, Friday swimming the breaststroke, and Friday swimming the freestyle, placed 5th in their heat and 12th overall with a time of 2:34.60. They were seeded 12th with a time of 2:35.32.

The 200-yard freestyle relay consisted of Cowher, Cherry, Friday, and Aiken, respectively. They placed 5th in their heat and 11th overall with a time of 2:06.91. They were seeded 11th with a time of 2:11.13.