USA gymnast Trinity Thomas win silver medal in first year of diving at Pa. championships

Steve Navaroli

For the York Daily Record

West York's Trinity Thomas placed second in the PIAA Class 2A diving championships this weekend at Bucknell University.

LEWISBURG - It’s downright amazing to think that West York’s Trinity Thomas has only been diving for one year.

Especially considering her performance at Saturday’s PIAA Class 2A diving championships, which showed everything but her inexperience.

Taking on the state’s best, most of which have been diving for years, Thomas held the lead for awhile. In the end, she finished second to Big Spring senior Shannon McCabe, the District 3 champ and state runner-up to West York’s Erica Sarver in 2017.

More:Spotlight on: Gymnast Trinity Thomas' diving debut

More:USA national team gymnast Trinity Thomas punches ticket to states - in diving

Thomas scored 379.70 points and was thrilled with her performance.

“I came in not really knowing where I would be, but I have been working hard and diligently,” she said from Bucknell University. “It’s been a lot of fun. I performed to my greatest ability and i was very happy with how I did.”

A natural gymnast, Thomas will now head back to that sport as she prepares for April’s World Cup, where she will compete with her USA Gymnastics team in Tokyo.

Gettysburg's Nico DeAngelo II reacts after seeing the scoreboard after swimming as anchor in the boys' 200-yard freestyle relay in the PIAA District 3 AA boys' swimming championships Friday, March 2, 2018, at Cumberland Valley. Gettysburg's relay team placed fourth and set a new school record.

Gettysburg duo medals

Gettysburg’s Jared Herr and Nico DeAngelo II swam together for many years.

With one final meet, the Warriors' duo wanted to accomplish something special during the weekend’s PIAA Class 2A swimming championships.

They did just that on Saturday when Herr won a bronze medal in the 500-yard freestyle with his time of 4:41.91, and DeAngelo’s 47.28 helped him take home sixth-place hardware in the 100 freestyle.

More:PIAA swimming: Dallastown's Logan Brockway caps memorable career with trip to medal podium

“I was really happy,” Herr said. “I know I wanted to get as high as I could, so when I saw the opportunity was there, I knew I just had to finish as strong as I can.”

DeAngelo and Herr earned one last swim with teammates Jacob Nelson and Cameron Bishop in the 400 free relay. They finished the consolation finals in 11th place with a 3:20.11.

“We have this competition,” DeAngelo said. “Even as a friendly competition, it became a constant back-and-forth battle, which I think really helped us push each other.”

“It was kind of representative of what swimming is: an individual, but also a team sport,” Herr said. “We are a very close group, and it was great to go out with all of them.”

The outstanding finish also gave each two individual medals for the weekend. On Friday, DeAngelo tied for sixth in the 100 butterfly and Herr was eighth in the 200 free.

York Suburban's Aidan Fryar swims the boys' 50-yard freestyle in the PIAA District 3 AA boys' swimming championships Friday, March 2, 2018, at Cumberland Valley. Fryar placed second in the event, qualifying for states.

Fryar, Trojans finish strong

One day after a fifth-place medal in the 50 free (21.35), York Suburban’s Aidan Fryar swam his final high school race with his teammates in the 400 free relay.

However, things got better in the finale as Zach Gochnauer, Matt Peters, Devon Lonergan and Fryar helped the Trojans earn a seventh-place medal in 3:19.31.

Earlier, Fryar won his 100 free consolation heat race with a 47.12 to placed ninth overall. Still, despite four years swimming at a high level, he found it hard to believe his high school career was over.

“It didn’t really sink in yet. It probably won’t sink in until Coach B cries at the banquet,” Fryar said of Trojans coach Craig Brennan. “I am really happy. It was a good senior year.”

Biglerville's Sarah Hardy surfaces in the girls' 100 yard breaststroke during a swim meet between the Gettysburg Warriors and York Suburban Trojans at Gettysburg College on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017. The Trojans defeated the Warriors 93-77.

Other notable finishes

As an independent swimmer, Sarah Hardy of Biglerville earned a spot in the consolation finals and finished in 13th place. ...

Suburban's Lonergan barely missed the consolations in the 500 free and finished 17th, as well as 25th in 200 free. His teammate Peters swam in the 200 IM and was 27th, and 28th in the breaststroke. ...

Nelson, Bishop, Herr and DeAngelo helped Gettysburg end the first day strong, placing 10th in the 200 free relay. Nelson was also 28th in the 100 butterfly. ...

York Suburban’s 200 medley relay of C.J. Zortman, Peters, Fryar and Charles Rogers placed 14th. ...

Katlyn Baer from Susquehannock placed 11th in the girls 200 free and was 31st in the 100 free on Saturday. Teammate Andrew Ferg placed 18th in the 200 IM and was 21st in the 100 back. Fellow Warrior Rohit Kandala was 30th in the 100 free. ...

York Suburban freshman Sophia Guyer finished 17th in the 200 IM. ... West York sophomore Tesia Thomas tied for 19th in the 50 free. ... Morgan Newell of Gettysburg placed 18th in the 100 butterfly and 23rd in the 100 free.