In her first time competing in the 500 yard freestyle since her freshman season, Noel Fresa set the school record. The Upper Perkiomen junior shattered a 16- year

On Tuesday Noel Fresa tied the pool record and broke the team record in the 100 backstroke. Last week she broke the school record in the 500 yard freestyle.

school record by more than two seconds in an 89-81 victory over Springfield (MontCo.) last week.

            "It was a great swim," Indians head coach Brien Kalnoski. "She looked so smooth. She was really cruising."

            On Tuesday against Owen J. Roberts, Fresa tied the pool record and broke the team record in the 100 backstroke. According to Kalnoski, the swimmer is poised for another strong post-season performance.

            "Noel is doing great," the coach said. "She's a gifted swimmer, but she's become more serious about the sport."

            According to Kalnoski, Fresa's goal is to return to the medal stand at the PIAA Class 2A championships. Last season, she finished fifth in the 100 free and sixth in the 50 free. The coach said she hopes to improve on that performance.

            Fresa has already qualified for the District One Class 2A championship meet in the 200 IM, the 50 free, 100 free, 500 free and 100 backstroke. On Thursday, Jan. 4, she won the 500 free in 5 minutes, 13.44 seconds, defeating the second place finisher by eight seconds.

            According to Kalnoski, Fresa admitted that she could have posted a faster time. "Noel said she probably could have gone out a little quicker," the coach said. "She didn't look tired."

Fresa's times in her top two events have improved significantly over last season, according to Kalnoski. He said she has shaved between one-half and three-quarters of a second off her best time in the 50 free, and nearly a full second off the 100 free.

            Fresa and Devin Romanowski each earned four first-place finishes against Springfield. They teamed with Bailey McCausland and Darragh Martin to win the 200 medley relay (1:57.45) and 400 free relay (3:50.90). According to Kalnoski, the victory in the 400 free relay clinched the victory for the Indians.

            Romanowski won the 50 free (26.2 seconds) and 100 free (57.73 seconds). McCausland took first in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.87).

            A pair of relays are closing in on records, according to Kalnoski. In a 100.5-67.5 loss to the Wildcats, Upper Perkiomen's 200 medley relay consisting of Fresa, McCausland, Martin and Romanowski, finished in 1:56.08, less than two seconds from the team mark of 1:54.79. The 200 free relay's best time (1:42.08) is also less than two seconds from the team record set in 1998.

            Sean Lyman and Kyle Kovalenko each posted two first-place finishes to lead the Upper Perkiomen boys to a 91-76 victory over Springfield.

            Lyman won the 100 butterfly (57.03 seconds) and the 100 backstroke (58.86 seconds). Kyle Kovalenko captured the 100 free (52.87 seconds) and the 200 free (1:53.36).

Against Owen J. Roberts, the Indians lost 94-71. Kovalenko and Lyman each finish first in two events. They paired with Joe McGillen and Trevor Cairns Kovalenko won the 400 free relay in 3:39.67.

            Kovalenko captured the 100 breaststroke. Lyman posted a time of 4:59.05 in the 500 free, which is fast enough to qualify him for the District One Class 3A championship meet. Cairns is less than a second off the automatic qualifying time of 5:01.75 in the same event, according to Kalnoski.