Hershey won four of the six events competed in the Wednesday evening session of the PIAA Class AAA girls' swimming championships at Bucknell University.
Two of the wins were new state records, two of the wins were by .03 seconds or less, and one was taken by a surge in the second half of the race.
Trojans team up for 200 medley relay record
Hershey had the narrowest of leads over North Allegheny through the first three legs of the 200-yard medley relay. Meaghan Raab, Vivian Tafuto and Gabi Broschard spent most of the first 150 yards up by no more than half a length. But when Colette Robinson dove into the pool and came back up to start her freestyle lap, North Allegheny's Morgan Soulia was even with her.
They stayed even to the end, when Robinson touched the wall just .01 seconds before Soulia for a state-record 1:42.09.
"I couldn't even watch the race, I was so nervous," said Raab, who swam the opening backstroke lap.
Wilson was fifth with a 1:47.10. Maggie Durning, Kenzie Klee, Amber Cortazzo and Alexandra Rockett swam for the Bulldogs.
Raab sets new 200 IM mark
About 30 minutes after the Trojans set the 200 medley relay record, Raab set a state record of her own in the 200 Individual Medley. This one lacked the drama of the relay, as Raab recorded a 1:57.13 and the second-place swimmer, Kathryn Painter of Norwin, had a 2:01.78.
"I think that record has been on my mind for about a year," Raab said.
The old mark of 1:57.74 had been set by Warwick Emily Cameron in 2011.
After being a part of two records in one night, Raab took large view of the meaning of the new marks.
"I think breaking a state record, it shows how strong the state is," Raab said. "There was a time that a 2:02 would have been the record. We've come a long way."
Tafuto also returned from the 200 medley relay to post a third-place 2:02.25 in the 200 IM. Chambersburg's Abby Stauffer was fourth with a 2:03.59 and Dallastown's Kacey Oberlander was eighth with a 2:06.39.
Veith narrowly takes second-straight 50 freestyle
Madelyn Veith defended her 50 freestyle title with a 23.13, edging Katie Ford of Mt. Lebanon and her 23.16.
"I think that was one of the best first halves of a race I've ever had," said Veith. "The end was not as good as I would have liked."
She was aware that Ford was right with her, but Veith was unsure if she had won when she touched the wall.
"I had to look up [at the scoreboard]," Veith said. "I was surprised. I honestly wasn't expecting to win because the competition was so fierce."
Alexandra Rockett of Wilson was third with a 23.49. Dallastown's Alyssa Bixler was sixth with a 24.04.
Hershey glides past North Allegheny in 200 freestyle relay
The fourth win for the Trojans was in the 200 freestyle relay, in which they posted a 1:33.81.
North Allegheny was second with a 1:35.38, but was ahead by .44 seconds midway through the race.
Robinson swam the third leg, and put Hershey ahead by .06 seconds before Veith finished the race and won with room to spare.
Kaley Buchanan and Jenny Young took the first two laps for Hershey.
Price goes back-to-back
Veith wasn't the only swimming to defend a title on Wednesday night. Northeastern's Niki Price took the 100 butterfly for the second straight year with a 54.61.
Price had the only sub-55 time in the preliminaries, but knew she had not gone too hard in the morning session.
"My walls weren't very good, so I knew there was room for improvement," Price said.
She said that she felt some pressure as the defending champion, but that did not hinder her.
"I just used it as motivation to go faster," Price said.
Haverford's Maddie Hart was second with a 55.37, and Buchanan was third with a 55.37.
Around the pool
The only gold medal outside of District 3 was won by Tommie Dillione of Council Rock North, who had a 1:49.44 in the 200 freestyle. Parkland's Siena Salvaggio was second with a 1:49.48.
Cami Cook of Cedar Cliff was seventh with a 1:52.31, and Nicole Smith of Dover was eighth with a 1:53.59.
Consolation results
District 3 entries
(Place listed is overall. Ninth place is the first finisher in the consolation, 16th place is the eighth finisher in the consolation)
200 medley relay
14. Dallastown (Kacey Oberlander, Jena Woods, Julia Casolo), 1:49.19.
200 freestyle
10. Maggie Lee, Hershey, 1:52.74.
12. Sabrina Mortell, Cumberland Valley, 1:52.93.
14. Samantha Marino, Cocalico, 1:53.33.
50 freestyle
11. Meredith Newman, Manheim Twp., 24.08.
13. Kaylee Hollenbach, Lower Dauphin, 24.23.
14. MacKenzie Gring, Muhlenberg, 24.24.
15. Autumn Shaffer, Garden Spot, 24.47.
200 freestyle relay
11. Dallastown (Alyssa Bixler, Erica Wise, Justina Thornley, Julia Casolo), 1:38.07.