Parsons earns two medals at Districts
- 04 March 2009
Ephrata's freshman sensation Kylee Parsons will make her first trek to the State meet following a double medal individual performance this past weekend at the District Three Swimming Championships held at Cumberland Valley High School.The EHS freshman swam to a fourth place finish in the AAA 200 free, and added a seventh-place medal in the 100 free. In addition, Parsons anchored both the 200 free and 400 free relays to a pair of eighth-place medals to cap a solid weekend of swimming.
Parsons, who became the first Ephrata freshman to reach States as a ninth grader since Jenna Raptosh did it in 2002, punched her State ticket in both the 200 free and the 100 free.
In the 200 free which featured a very tough field, she was a solid fourth with a time of 1:53.64, trailing only Claire Loht of Red Land (1:50.33), Caitlyn Karr of Wilson (1:50.34), and Alexis Grier of Hershey (1:53.02).
In the 100, Parsons finished in a time of 53.17. Kathleen Nolan of Hershey captured the gold in that event with a time of 51.19.
"We were pretty sure she'd make (States) in the 200, but the 100 was tough," Ephrata Coach Barry Erb said of Parsons. "The 100 you just never know because it's boom-boom and it's over."
Parsons will be seeded 10th in the 200 and 16th in the 100 for States, which will be held at Bucknell University March 13-14. The top eight place winners in each event receive medals at States.
"You don't always know how freshmen will react in such a big meet, but we feel she has a legitimate shot (to medal), especially in the 200," Erb said. "Being a club swimmer, she is used to big meets so that will help."
Back to Districts, where Parsons, along with Nicole Martin, Courtney Reading and Caitlin Davies teamed for a pair of eighth place medals in the relays. That foursome turned in a time of 1:40.92 in the 200 free relay to place eighth. They also took eighth in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:43.11.
A year ago, their 200 time would have gotten them to states. However, Erb said the competition this year was deep.
"We told the girls that's the time we needed and they went out and did it. But we still didn't go because the competition was so strong this year," Erb said.
In addition to the medalists, several other swimmers saw their seasons come to a close at Districts.
Martin was 12th in the 50 free with a time of 25.09, and placed 18th in the 100 free (55.46). Ephrata's Paul Ashton was 24th in the 200 IM (2:15.19), while Nate Brrown rounded out the Mounts' performance with a 17th place finish in the boys 50 free (23.09).
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