Whether it was claiming a first ever gold medal, dropping time for a personal best, shattering a meet record or nipping the competition at the wall, the 2012-13 high school boys' swimming season had a little bit of everything.
In no particular order, PennLive takes a look at five of the top moments of the season:
MID-PENN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
COMMONWEALTH: Hershey
KEYSTONE: Lower Dauphin
COLONIAL: Northern
1. Hershey senior Vinny Tafuto began his PIAA postseason competing in the 500 freestyle his freshman season. Three years later, Tafuto became the best freestyle sprinter in the state. The University of Michigan recruit stayed consistently in the 20s all season in the 50 freestyle. His benchmark for most of the year was a 20.25 from USA Junior Nationals early in the season. He dropped to a 20.19 in breaking the District 3-AAA meet record and then realized his state title aspirations after a clocking a 20.16 in the 50 free final at the PIAA Class AAA championships.
2. La Salle College was the heavy favorite to win the PIAA Class AAA team title. The deep and talented Explorers did just that, but for one race, Hershey got a one up on the District 12 powerhouse. It came in the 200 freestyle relay where Austin Doss, Shota Nakano, Jeremy Bauchwitz and Tafuto swam a 1:23.37 to nip La Salle by .03 seconds. Tafuto's spectacular 19.59 anchor allowed Hershey to rally for the exhillerating victory.
3. If you're lucky, you might get Bradley Buchter to crack a smile. The Trinity freshman, though, had plenty to smile about after winning the District 3-AA and PIAA Class AA diving titles in record breaking fashion. Buchter, the younger brother of Shamrocks' senior Ashley Buchter (two-time state diving champ), brought the crowd to its feet at Big Spring High School at districts and at Bucknell University at states.
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4. Through the past three seasons, Susquehanna Twp. has experienced a great deal of success in the regular season and in the postseason. The one constant through all of it has been Nathan Smith. The Indians' senior turned in another terrrific postseason this year after he won the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle at the District 3-AA meet. He also turned in a clutch anchor split in helping the Indians win district gold in the 200 free relay as teamed with Rhyce Hammaker, Tyler Ozehowski and Sam Martin.
5. While the District 3-AAA meet was predictably dominated by Hershey, Cumberland Valley, led by junior Jack Brenneman, was able to make its presence felt late on the first day. Brenneman came up with a great back half to earn the 3-AAA title in the 100 butterfly. In the ensuing event, Brenneman swam achor with Seth Wenner, Nick Francis and Zach Snyder to win the 200 freestyle relay.
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Complete winter sports all-star coverage
TOP 2012-13 HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' SWIMMING MOMENTS
THE BIG 12 BOYS' SWIMMING ALL-STAR TEAM
THE BIG 12 GIRLS' SWIMMING ALL-STAR TEAM
MORE LINKS:
DISTRICT 3-AA GIRLS' SWIMMING RESULTS
DISTRICT 3-AAA GIRLS' SWIMMING RESULTS
PIAA CLASS AA GIRLS' SWIMMING RESULTS
PIAA CLASS AAA GIRLS' SWIMMING RESULTS