Deer Lakes’ Loper surprises himself with WPIAL runner-up finish in 500 free

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 2, 2018 | 8:06 PM

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When Deer Lakes sophomore Noah Loper touched the wall at the completion of his 500-yard freestyle race Friday at the WPIAL Class AA swimming championships, he looked up but was unable to see much of anything.

His goggles had fogged up. He had to ask an official what his place and time were.

The answer in return was second place. The time — 4 minutes, 48.26 seconds — was more than 19 seconds faster than his seed time that had him slotted eighth coming in.

“Whenever (the official) told me, I was like, ‘What? Really?' I was just amazed. I couldn't speak,” Loper said.

Loper's actions spoke loud enough as his runner-up finish — an automatic qualifying time for states — was tied for the best place for Deer Lakes over the two days at Pitt's Trees Pool. On Thursday, sophomore Adam Morrison took second in the 200 free.

“I felt great during (the 500),” Loper said. “I was getting a little tired at the end, but I just kept pushing myself.”

In all, Lancers individuals and relays brought home eight medals.

The boys team recorded six medal-winning times and finished eighth in the Class AA team standings.

“I was extremely happy with everyone,” Deer Lakes coach Victoria Maze said. “We came in with some pretty high expectations.”

In the same boys 500 race Friday, Morrison swam to fourth — also an automatic qualifying place for states. His time of 4:51.20 was 13 seconds faster than his seed time.

“I felt pretty confident (in the 500),” Morrison said. “I was racing one of my teammates. That pushed me even harder. I expected a pretty good time.”

The top four finishers in each Class AA individual and relay event and top three in Class AAA automatically qualified for the PIAA meet March 14-17 at Bucknell. The PIAA also will make several at-large selections from all of the time finishers at WPIALs and throughout the state.

The top eight finishers in each WPIAL event earned medals.

The Alle-Kiski Valley was well represented on the medals stand Friday.

Highlands sophomore Rachel Blackburn swam at states on a relay last year. Now, she will compete individually after taking third in the Class AA girls 100 breaststroke. She recorded a time of 1:07.64.

“That was a relief off my shoulders because I had been working so hard for this,” said Blackburn, who added an eighth in the 200 IM on Thursday.

“Everybody helped me and supported me along the way. There was some pressure with how high I was seeded, but I was able to focus on my race. I am really excited.”

Plum junior Devan Taylor swam to a fourth-place finish in the Class AAA 100 breaststroke. Her time of 1:04.16, surpassed her own school record set last year.

Butler sophomore Laura Goettler won the event with a time of 1:02.89.

“Going through the turns and seeing (Goettler) right next to me gave me that push to go faster,” Taylor said. “Everybody in that heat was neck-and-neck. It was really exciting.”

Deer Lakes sophomore Renee Robson will return to Class AA states in two events. She recorded a time of 53.87 Friday in the 100 free and placed fourth after Thursday's third-place swim in the 50 free.

Kiski Area senior Josh Madzy placed sixth in the Class AAA boys 100 back (51.66). He also was seventh in the 200 free on Day 1.

The Deer Lakes boys 400 free relay — Loper, Morrison, senior Alex Sharkins and freshman Max Hilliard — moved to seventh from the 13th seed with a time drop of nearly 14 seconds to 3:21.67.

Springdale junior Rachel Halapchuck cut more than four seconds from her seed time and placed seventh in the girls Class AA 100 back with a time of 1:01.35.

Freeport junior Ariana Clark captured a medal in the same event as she placed eighth in 1:01.42.

There also were a couple of close calls in pursuit of top-eight medals.

The Kiski boys 400 free relay of Madzy, seniors Mitchell McGowan and Caleb Hansen and junior Brenden Brzozowski dropped more than four seconds from their seed time and placed ninth in 3:17.49.

The finish was only three-hundredths of a second out of eighth.

Fox Chapel senior Joslyn Filo tied for ninth in the 100 free (53.35) with Franklin Regional senior Michelle Lopes. They were six-hundredths of a second away from eighth.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski School, Plum, Springdale