Dallas sophomore Zolner earns state individual swimming medal

The following members of Dallas Swim and Dive Team attended the state meet. First row, from left, Mikail Krochta, Porter Luksic, Jared Krawetz, Troy Reinert, Tony Caravaggio. Second row, Annalise Cheshire, Abby Zolner, Melinda Ratchford, Lauren Finnegan, Maddie Hurst, Maddy Ross, Lexi Spaciano.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_State-Team-2016.jpg.optimal.jpgThe following members of Dallas Swim and Dive Team attended the state meet. First row, from left, Mikail Krochta, Porter Luksic, Jared Krawetz, Troy Reinert, Tony Caravaggio. Second row, Annalise Cheshire, Abby Zolner, Melinda Ratchford, Lauren Finnegan, Maddie Hurst, Maddy Ross, Lexi Spaciano.

Dallas’s Porter Luksic competes in the 400-yard freestyle relay during the PIAA District II Class AA Swimming Championship on March 19.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_PorterLuksic2.jpg.optimal.jpgDallas’s Porter Luksic competes in the 400-yard freestyle relay during the PIAA District II Class AA Swimming Championship on March 19.

LEWISBURG – Dallas sophomore Abby Zolner tied for sixth in the 100-yard butterfly on the first day of competition, earning a state medal in Class AA at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships, which were held March 18-19 at Bucknell University.

Zolner swam her best time during qualifying to make the finals, which include the top eight. The District 2 champion with a time of 59.01 seconds, qualified in 58.74. She then posted a time of 59.02 in the state final.

The Mountaineers finished 19th in the state with 43 ½ points with Zolner leading the way.

Zolner joined Melinda Ratchford, Lauren Finnegan and Annalise Cheshire in both freestyle relays to make the B (Consolation) final and score points for the team. The ninth-through 16th-place qualifiers in each event earn spots in the B finals.

Dallas placed 11th in the closing 400 freestyle relay and 15th in the 200 freestyle relay after qualifying 10th in each event.

Cheshire, another sophomore, scored points in all four events. She was 13th in the 50 freestyle and 14th in the 100 freestyle.

Zolner missed out on points in her fourth event, placing 20th in the 500 freestyle.

Dallas also had two divers score points.

Lexi Spaciano finished 10th, beating both District 2 divers that she finished behind in the district meet, including teammate Maddy Ross, who placed 16th.

Tunkhannock’s Morgan Manglaviti was 21st in the 200 freestyle.

Wyoming Seminary placed ahead on District 2 team champion Dallas at the state meet with the help of Julia Baur, a senior who was part of the Lake-Lehman team prior to this school year. She was part of the 400 freestyle relay team that finished ninth and the 200 freestyle relay that was 12th. She finished 23rd in the 100 butterfly.

Porter Luksic scored points in three events to help the Dallas boys finish 33rd in the state with 18 points. Tunkhannock was 53rd with three points.

Luksic followed up his District 2 title by placing 13th in the 100 breaststroke. He also was part of the 12th-place 200 medley relay team and anchored the 400 freestyle relay team to a 15th-place finish.

Mikail Krochta, Troy Reinert and Jared Krawetz joined Luksic for both relays.

Tunkhannock’s Jacob Skoronski was 24th in the 500 freestyle and 29th in the 200 freestyle.