Upper Perk posts 16 District qualifying times.

          Both coaches went home happy from the opening swim meet of the season for Quakertown and Upper Perkiomen last Friday in the Upper Perk natatorium. The visitors scored victories in both the boys (84-63) and girls meet (103-55), but individual performances were the main focus for both squads.

          The Panthers sister and brother duo, junior Kaylee Heimes and freshman Justin Heimes, got off to spectacular starts by setting pool records in the girls and boys 100 backstrokes. Kaylee finished her event in 59.30 and Justin came in at 53.85.

          Quakertown coach Mike Peters had a simple explanation for their success, "They have an incredible work ethic. Eat, breathe, sleep swimming."

          Peters is looking forward to the unfolding of Justin's career. "The sky's the limit. All potential. He's still growing, maturing. It's going to be exciting to watch him just develop as a swimmer."

          Both also won the 100 freestyle, Kaylee in 54.47 and Justin in 50.16.

          The Heimes – who swam with the Upper Perk YMCA Gators last summer – are not strangers to some of the Upper Perk swimmers. Tribe coach Brien Kalnoski was pleased that his team got a chance to test themselves against elite competition.

          "It was nice that our kids could race them. A lot of these kids are friends with them which makes it a fun meet," Kalnoski observed. "They're quality swimmers."

          Kalnoski has many quality swimmers of his own and watched his teams win a combined seven individual events and three relays. "It went very, very well. The kids swam great, certainly, at this point in the season."

          UP swimmers achieved 16 District qualifying times.

          "As I enter my fourth year as head coach, this would be a first for our program, to have that many district qualifying times come out of the first swim meet," Kalnoski noted.  

          Kyle Kovalenko took first in the boys individual medley (2:16.03) and the 100 breaststroke (1:06.33).

          Bailey McCausland won two events for the girls, the 200 freestyle (2:08.45) and the 100 breaststroke (1:13.08). Her times were close to her District times from last season.

          "She did great," enthused Kalnoski.

          The coach also had praise for freshman Noel Fresa, who won the 50 freestyle in her first high school event with a time of 25.62. It was her best time ever in the event and it qualified her for Districts. Fresa also qualified in the 100 back and 100 free.

          Kalnoski believes that Fresa has a shot at breaking the team's long-standing backstroke record. "That may fall this year, at some point in time," he said.

          Another freshman, Jayme Fisher, won the 500 freestyle, posting her best time, 6:36.46, and getting within seven seconds of the District qualifying mark.

          Also swimming close to his District times from last year was Kyle Himmelwright who took the 200 boys freestyle (1:59.01) despite a sore shoulder.

          Freshman Joe McGillen made a notable debut by achieving a District time in the 100 Breast.

          For the Panthers, Catherine Myers took two of her events, the 200 individual medley (2:42.05) and the 100 butterfly (1:17.28).

          Noah Guckavan won the 50 freestyle (22.90) and the 100 butterfly (55.04).

          Nathan Spak was first in the 500 free (6:03.45).

          "I was really pleased with their performances," Quakertown coach Peters said afterward. "I know they're tired. I know they've been working hard. I'm just really proud of them. It was a good effort."

          On the other side of the pool, Kalnoski was philosophical about losing meets because of lack of numbers.

          "We won a lot of races, this evening. This will be the story all year. We're small. It's what it is. The boys understand this. We're going to swim hard, and they just said to me yesterday, 'Our goal is Districts and States; our goal is the post season, just swim hard.' We keep it close, as close as we can do it, and that's that."