Swimming: At District 3 Championships, Palmyra’s Gladysz Leads with Four Medals as LebCo Swimmers Earn Eleven Podium Finishes

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Five Lebanon County programs were represented Friday and Saturday as the PIAA District 3 Swimming Championships took over Cumberland Valley High School, with 21 different athletes taking to the water over two days of racing. It was an opportunity for personal records, podium finishes, and a chance to advance to States for a select few. When all was said and done, our local student-athletes returned to Lebanon County having earned 11 medals with many of those performance resulting in an invite to compete in the PIAA State Championship Meet.

The weekend’s top medal haul came from Palmyra senior Sam Gladysz, who earned four medals at Districts while helping power the Cougars to a pair of state-qualifying relay finishes. Gladysz led the way individually with a 3rd-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly (49.85) and added another medal with a 7th-place result in the 100-yard freestyle (46.76), with both swims meeting the standard for the PIAA State Championships. 

Gladysz then helped Palmyra pick up two more podium finishes in the relays, swimming as part of the Cougars’ 4th-place 200-yard freestyle relay (1:27.16) alongside John Yerke, Dalton Cole, and Cornelius Cummings, and their 5th-place 400-yard freestyle relay (3:12.83) with Yerke, Cummings, and Cole — giving Gladysz four total medals on the weekend and two more state-qualifying performances for the Palmyra relay group. Yerke added to that weekend as well, pairing his relay medals with an additional podium finish in the 200-yard individual medley, where he placed 8th (1:59.66).

Also having a big weekend was Lebanon junior Jomar Hidalgo, who also doubled up with two state-qualifying finishes. Hidalgo finished with a bronze medal in the 100-yard backstroke (51.34) and placed 5th in the 200-yard individual medley (1:55.85), earning berths to Bucknell in both events.

In the Boys AA (2A) classification, two more Lebanon County seniors delivered podium efforts and state berths. Northern Lebanon senior Collin Cheslock produced the county’s highest individual finish of the weekend, taking 2nd in the 100 breaststroke (59.91), and he added another medal with a 4th-place finish in the 200 IM (2:05.17), with both swims also meeting the standard for States. Annville-Cleona senior Danny Trate placed 4th in both the 50 free (22.04) and the 100 free (48.34), qualifying for States in each sprint.

By the end of the meet, Lebanon County’s state qualifiers included Hidalgo in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke, Gladysz in the 100 fly and 100 free along with Palmyra’s two freestyle relays, Trate in the 50 free and 100 free, and Cheslock in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. 

The postseason continues at the PIAA State Swimming Championships, which will be held March 11 through March 14 at Bucknell University, where Lebanon County’s qualifiers will look to build on their success from Cumberland Valley.

Several other Lebanon County athletes had great meets, as you will see in the results listed below.

Below are the individual results from the District 3 Championships, broken down by AA/AAA event and then by school.

This color indicates medalists.

Individual Event Results

AA

Girls

50 yd Freestyle

11th Taylor Cunningham (Northern Lebanon) – 26.68
22nd Nia Hafey (Annville-Cleona) – 28.03

100 yd Butterfly

10th Taylor Cunningham (Northern Lebanon) – 1:07.72
13th Ellie Winters (Northern Lebanon) – 1:08.90

100 yd Breaststroke

23rd Nia Hafey (Annville-Cleona) – 1:22.67

500 yd Freestyle

16th Ellie Winters (Northern Lebanon) – 6:04.37

Boys

50 yd Freestyle

4th Danny Trate (Annville-Cleona) – 22.04 – State Qualifier 
24th Colin Trate (Annville-Cleona) – 25.87

100 yd Freestyle

4th Danny Trate (Annville-Cleona) – 48.34 – State Qualifier 

100 yd Breaststroke

2nd Collin Cheslock (Northern Lebanon) – 59.91 – State Qualifier 

200 yd Freestyle

21st Colin Trate (Annville-Cleona) – 2:05.16

200 yd Individual Medley

4th Collin Cheslock (Northern Lebanon) – 2:05.17 – State Qualifier 

AAA

Girls

50 yd Freestyle

18th Brooke Shuman (Cedar Crest) – 25.42
23rd Abigail Good (Palmyra) – 26.00

100 yd Butterfly

21st Eleanor Brower (Palmyra) – 1:02.30

100 yd Freestyle

17th Brooke Shuman (Cedar Crest) – 54.99
28th Abigail Good (Palmyra) – 56.79

100 yd Backstroke

29th Leeann Roof (Cedar Crest) – 1:05.48

200 yd Freestyle

23rd Lilly Annibali (Cedar Crest) – 2:05.85
28th Leeann Roof (Cedar Crest) – 2:07.67
30th Eleanor Brower (Palmyra) – 2:08.58

200 yd Individual Medley

23rd Chloe Helwig (Cedar Crest) – 2:23.94
28th Laura Reese (Palmyra) – 2:27.03
29th Sarah Mickalonis (Palmyra) – 2:27.31

500 yd Freestyle

20th Lilly Annibali (Cedar Crest) – 5:30.93
23rd Chloe Helwig (Cedar Crest) – 5:32.35

200 yd Freestyle Relay

13th Cedar Crest (Brooke Shuman, Leeann Roof, Maddie Edwards, Chloe Helwig) – 1:44.63

400 yd Freestyle Relay

11th Cedar Crest (Brooke Shuman, Lilly Annibali, Leeann Roof, Chloe Helwig) – 3:48.71

Boys

Diving

16th Myles Ross (Palmyra) – 177.45

50 yd Freestyle

24th Xen Donten (Cedar Crest) – 23.04

100 yd Butterfly

3rd Sam Gladysz (Palmyra) – 49.85 – State Qualifier 
17th Dalton Cole (Palmyra) – 53.32
29th Henry Wengert (Cedar Crest) – 57.32

100 yd Freestyle

7th Sam Gladysz (Palmyra) – 46.76 – State Qualifier 
12th Cornelius Cummings (Palmyra) – 48.28
22nd Luca Annibali (Cedar Crest) – 49.58

100 yd Backstroke

3rd Jomar Hidalgo (Lebanon) – 51.34 – State Qualifier 
19th John Yerke (Palmyra) – 56.49
29th Dalton Cole (Palmyra) – 58.14

100 yd Breaststroke

28th Finn Cummings (Palmyra) – 1:05.80

200 yd Freestyle

10th Cornelius Cummings (Palmyra) – 1:44.15
17th Luca Annibali (Cedar Crest) – 1:48.17

200 yd Individual Medley

5th Jomar Hidalgo (Lebanon) – 1:55.85 – State Qualifier 
8th John Yerke (Palmyra) – 1:59.66

500 yd Freestyle

24th Finn Cummings (Palmyra) – 5:10.47
29th Brady Hughes (Palmyra) – 5:13.71

200 yd Medley Relay

16th Palmyra (Miles Taylor, Finn Cummings, Brady Hughes, Jake Shelhorn) – 1:46.28

200 yd Freestyle Relay

4th Palmyra (Sam Gladysz, John Yerke, Dalton Cole, Cornelius Cummings) – 1:27.16 – State Qualifier 
15th Cedar Crest (Luca Annibali, Xen Donten, Chase Demchak, Henry Wengert) – 1:33.21

400 yd Freestyle Relay

5th Palmyra (John Yerke, Cornelius Cummings, Dalton Cole, Sam Gladysz) – 3:12.83 – State Qualifier 
15th Cedar Crest (Luca Annibali, Zach Weaber, Chase Demchak, Henry Wengert) – 3:24.97

This color indicates medalists.

Gladysz, Cummings Lead Palmyra’s Medal Haul at Mid Penn Championships

Lebanon’s Hidalgo Strikes Gold, LebCo Swimmers Earn 31 Medals at Lancaster Lebanon Championships – Full LebCo Results

Results by School

Girls

50 yd Freestyle
22nd Nia Hafey – 28.03

100 yd Breaststroke
23rd Nia Hafey – 1:22.67

Boys

200 yd Freestyle
21st Colin Trate – 2:05.16

50 yd Freestyle
4th Danny Trate – 22.04
24th Colin Trate – 25.87

100 yd Freestyle
4th Danny Trate – 48.34

Girls

200 yd Freestyle
23rd Lilly Annibali – 2:05.85
28th Leeann Roof – 2:07.67

200 yd Individual Medley
23rd Chloe Helwig – 2:23.94

50 yd Freestyle
18th Brooke Shuman – 25.42

100 yd Freestyle
17th Brooke Shuman – 54.99

500 yd Freestyle
20th Lilly Annibali – 5:30.93
23rd Chloe Helwig – 5:32.35

100 yd Backstroke
29th Leeann Roof – 1:05.48

200 yd Freestyle Relay
13th Cedar Crest (Brooke Shuman, Leeann Roof, Maddie Edwards, Chloe Helwig) – 1:44.63

400 yd Freestyle Relay
11th Cedar Crest (Brooke Shuman, Lilly Annibali, Leeann Roof, Chloe Helwig) – 3:48.71

Boys

200 yd Freestyle
17th Luca Annibali – 1:48.17

50 yd Freestyle
24th Xen Donten – 23.04

100 yd Butterfly
29th Henry Wengert – 57.32

100 yd Freestyle
22nd Luca Annibali – 49.58

200 yd Freestyle Relay
15th Cedar Crest (Luca Annibali, Xen Donten, Chase Demchak, Henry Wengert) – 1:33.21

400 yd Freestyle Relay
15th Cedar Crest (Luca Annibali, Zach Weaber, Chase Demchak, Henry Wengert) – 3:24.97

Boys

200 yd Individual Medley
5th Jomar Hidalgo – 1:55.85

100 yd Backstroke
3rd Jomar Hidalgo – 51.34

Girls

50 yd Freestyle
11th Taylor Cunningham – 26.68

100 yd Butterfly
10th Taylor Cunningham – 1:07.72
13th Ellie Winters – 1:08.90

500 yd Freestyle
16th Ellie Winters – 6:04.37

Boys

200 yd Individual Medley
4th Collin Cheslock – 2:05.17

100 yd Breaststroke
2nd Collin Cheslock – 59.91

Girls

200 yd Freestyle
30th Eleanor Brower – 2:08.58

200 yd Individual Medley
28th Laura Reese – 2:27.03
29th Sarah Mickalonis – 2:27.31

50 yd Freestyle
23rd Abigail Good – 26.00

100 yd Butterfly
21st Eleanor Brower – 1:02.30

100 yd Freestyle
28th Abigail Good – 56.79

Boys

Diving
16th Myles Ross – 177.45

200 yd Freestyle
10th Cornelius Cummings – 1:44.15

200 yd Individual Medley
8th John Yerke – 1:59.66

500 yd Freestyle
24th Finn Cummings – 5:10.47
29th Brady Hughes – 5:13.71

100 yd Butterfly
3rd Sam Gladysz – 49.85
17th Dalton Cole – 53.32

100 yd Freestyle
7th Sam Gladysz – 46.76
12th Cornelius Cummings – 48.28

100 yd Backstroke
19th John Yerke – 56.49
29th Dalton Cole – 58.14

100 yd Breaststroke
28th Finn Cummings – 1:05.80

200 yd Medley Relay
16th Palmyra (Miles Taylor, Finn Cummings, Brady Hughes, Jake Shelhorn) – 1:46.28

200 yd Freestyle Relay
4th Palmyra (Sam Gladysz, John Yerke, Dalton Cole, Cornelius Cummings) – 1:27.16

400 yd Freestyle Relay
5th Palmyra (John Yerke, Cornelius Cummings, Dalton Cole, Sam Gladysz) – 3:12.83