Kai Hang captured a championship and set a meet record during last weekend's 2024 PA YMCA Central District Championships. His two-medal performance led the Upper Perkiomen YMCA team to a solid showing.

Eight swimmers from the Upper Perkiomen Otters have qualified for  YMCA Nationals, schedule for April 2-6 in Greensboro, NC.  Front row: Roman Herman, Isaac Jeffers, Kai Hang, Nolan McCloskey, and Tommy Saeger.  Back row: Amy Rohl, Maddie Abel, and Gabby Jones.

            Hang's swims led the Otters to an overall sixth-place finish during the meet at the Graham Natatorium, in York, which includes athletes from locations that included State College, Waynesbor, Reading and Berks County, Phoenixville, Chambersburg, Wilkes-Barre, West Shore, Bloomsburg, Northern Dauphin and Juniata Valley.

            Hang won the 200 yard breaststroke in the 15 to 21 age division. His time of 2:05.83 set a new meet record.

            The Upper Perkiomen senior also finished second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 57.62 seconds. Hang added a fifth place in the 400 individual medley (4:19.39).

            Nolan McCloskey contributed four top-three performances in the same age division for the Otters. He won the 100 backstroke in 53.42.

            McCloskey finished second in the 200 backstroke (1:55) and added third-place performances in the 500 free (4:49.6) and the 200 IM (1:58.85). He posted personal bests in each of the five events he entered, according to information posted on his Swimcloud.com web page.
            Roman Herman and Jackson Kelly each won a gold medal at districts. Herman finished first in the 1,650 free with a time of 16:43.99. He added sixth-place performances in the 500 free (4:51.54) and the 1,000 free (10:06.56) in the 15 to 21 age division.

            Kelly won the 200 backstroke (2:01.27) in the 13-14 division. He added a second place in the 100 backstroke (57.07).

            In the same age category, Logan Abel won the 200 butterfly (2:03.35.) and finished second in the 500 free (5:04) and in fifth place in the 200 IM (2:06.66). Abel also went 6-for-6 in posting personal bests.

            Keilani Silva led the Otters girls to a fifth-place showing. In the 13-14 age category, she posted four top-four finishes.

            Silva won the 1,650 free with a time of 18:04.66, while finishing second in the 500 free (5:16.59) and the 1,000 free (11:05.09). She added a fourth place in the 200 free (1:58.16).

            Madelyn Abel won a silver medal in the 200 butterfly (2:08.4) in the 15-21 age category. She also finished fifth in the 200 free (1:55.50) and sixth in the 50 free (24.67).       

           Three swimmers hit the qualifying times for YMCA nationals during the district meet. McCloskey reached the mark in the 100 and 200 backstroke while Madelyn Abel did the same in the 200 butterfly and 50 freestyle.

            The Otters will compete in states, scheduled for March 22-24, at the Mylan Park Aquatic Center near Morgantown, WV. Eight high-school age swimmers – Madelyn Abel, Hang, Roman Herman, Issac Jeffers, Gabby Jones, McCloskey, Amy Rohl and Tommy Saeger – have already qualified for the 2024 YMCA Short Course National Swimming Championship, scheduled for April 2-6 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C.