La Salle swim team three-peats

The La Salle swimming team extended its dynasty Thursday at the PIAA swimming and diving championships. The Explorers cruised to another Class AAA state title at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.

Buoyed by two relay wins on Wednesday, including a meet record in the 200 medley, La Salle scored 280 points and easily outpaced second-place North Allegheny.

"I'm just so proud of the team," Explorers coach Frank Lichtner said. "It was a much younger team after the last two years, yet they decided they were going to win. I really mean that. They decided that they wanted to win again, and they went out and did it."

The Explorers won their third straight state title in their sixth season of PIAA competition, with a 24-member team that had only three seniors.

"We're returning a ton of people next year," Lichtner said.

Two other local boys' champions were crowned Thursday:

Hatboro-Horsham's Michael Thomas claimed the 100 backstroke in 46.65 seconds. Thomas McCormick of West Chester Henderson won the 100 breaststroke in 54.92.

La Salle earned silver medals Thursday from Michael McBryan in the 100 breaststroke and its 400 freestyle relay team.

Two girls' divers from area AAA schools also medaled Thursday. Upper Dublin's Corey Johnson was second, and Marie Yacopino of North Penn placed third.

Council Rock North's Tommie Dillione earned her second medal by finishing third in the 500 freestyle.

CLASS AAA BOYS

Top 15 teams: 1. La Salle, 280; 2. North Allegheny, 202; 3. Upper St. Clair, 192.5; 4. Hershey, 152; 5. Upper Dublin, 128; 6. Council Rock North, 1-2; 7. (tie) Dallastown, 95; 7 (tie) Souderton, 95; 9. North Penn, 77; 10. Cathedral Prep, 73; 11. Cumberland Valley, 70; 12. Owen J. Roberts, 58.5; 13. Bethlehem Freedom, 56; 14. West Chester Rustin, 55.5; 15. Perkiomen Valley, 49.

Other area teams: 17. Hatboro-Horsham, 37; 18. West Chester Henderson, 36; 29. Radnor, 18; 31. (tie) Methacton, 15; 31. (tie) Conestoga, 15; 36. Kennett, 12; 43. (tie) Boyertown, 5; 43. (tie) Haverford High, 5; 43. Central Bucks South, 5; 47. Neshaminy (tie) 4; 47. (tie) Downingtown East, 4; 51. (tie) Wissahickon, 3; 51. (tie) Pennsbury 51; 55. (tie) Ridley, 1.

100-yard freestyle: 1. Kevin Musterait, Souderton, 43.94; 2. Michael Jensen, Upper Dublin, 44.39; 3. Greg Brocato, La Salle, 44.67.

500 freestyle: 1. Zachary Burger, North Allegheny, 4.22.75; 2. Sam Magnan, Bethlehem Freedom, 4:25.05; 3. Christopher Devlin, Upper Dublin, 4:26.

100 backstroke: 1. Michael Thomas, Hatboro-Horsham, 46.65; 2. Ryan Dudzinski, Upper St. Clair, 46.88; 3. Jonathan Ekas, McDowell, 49.80.

100 breaststroke: 1. Thomas McCormick, West Chester Henderson, 54.92; 2. Michael McBryan, La Salle, 54.97; 3. Rex Riley, Cathedral Prep, 55.73.

400 freestyle relay: 1. Upper St. Clair (Alex Hardwick, Patrick Lersch, Fynn Minuth, Ryan Dudzinski), 3:03.04; 2. La Salle, 3:03.32; 3. North Allegheny, 3:03.49.

CLASS AAA GIRLS

Top 15 teams: 1. Hershey, 279; 2. North Allegheny, 235; 3. North Penn, 189; 4. Greater Latrobe, 115; 5. Mt. Lebanon, 100; 6. Parkland, 94; 7. Wilson, 81; 9. Upper Dublin, 75; 10. Upper St. Clair, 64; 11. (tie) Oakland Catholic, 61; 11. Haverford High, 61; 13. Council Rock South, 54; 14. Central Bucks East, 53; 15. West Chester Henderson, 50.

Other area teams: 16. Conestoga, 46; 20. Central Bucks West, 32; 22. Strath Haven, 28; 24. Downingtown West, 26; 26. (tie) Avon Grove, 23; 26. (tie) Pennridge, 23; 28. (tie) Methacton, 21; 28. (tie) West Chester Rustin, 21; 33. Little Flower, 17; 38. (tie) Cardinal O'Hara, 14; 38. (tie) Radnor, 14; 42. (tie) Lower Merion, 13; 46. Pennsbury, 11; 50. (tie) Archbishop Ryan, 8; 53. Owen J. Roberts, 5; 54. (tie) Hatboro-Horsham, 4; 54. (tie) Ridley, 4; 58. Abington, 3; 60. (tie) Wissahickon, 2; 60. (tie) Oxford, 2.

100 freestyle: 1. Madelyn Veith, Hershey, 50.45; 2. Siena Salvaggio, Parkland, 50.46; 3. Katie Ford, Mt. Lebanon, 50.71.

500 freestyle: 1. Sabrina Mortell, Cumberland Valley, 4:52.55; 2. Kathryn Painter, Norwin, 4:54.15; 3. Tommie Dillione, Council Rock North, 4:55.51.

100 backstroke: 1. Meaghan Raab, Hershey, 53.08; 2. Jacquelyn Dy, North Allegheny, 53.91; 3. Kacey Oberlander, Dallastown, 55.75.

100 breaststroke: 1. Vivi Tafuto, Hershey, 1:01.81; 2. Katie Fernander, Hampton, 1:02.88; 3. Kayla Owens, Greater Latrobe, 1:03.72.

400 freestyle relay: 1. Hershey (Kaley Buchanan, Vivi Tafuto, Madelyn Veith), 3:21.34; 2. North Allegheny, 3:27.57; 3. North Penn, 3:29.75; 2. North Allegheny, 3:27.57; 3. North Penn, 3:29.84.

1-meter diving: 1. Maria Lohman, Chartiers Valley, 529.80; 2. Corey Johnson, Upper Dublin, 485.85; 3. Marie Yacopino, North Penn, 478.40.