"We're very excited," Clearfield head coach Jackie Morrison said. "A lot of people punched their ticket tonight.

"We're real pleased. You never know at a meet like this with nerves and tension and pressure. Now I think that's all dispelled. We have a night in, a lot of big swims today."

Six boys guaranteed their state championship bids as the 200 medley relay squad set the tone, opening things up with a 1:40.90 that topped the previous meet record by over a second.

Shay Flanagan put together a solid backstroke leg before Mark Krchnak broke things open off the block and Kraig Peterson and Connor Shirey wrapped up the effort.

"On the boys side you expected certain things," Morrison said. "As a coach you're always a little nervous at first. ... We looked at the seedings and didn't want to be too overconfident."

Those worries proved unwarranted, and the boys wrapped up the day the same way they started - splashing to a relay victory. This time the 200 free relay team of Justin DeCasper, Krchnak, Jordan Mumma and Flanagan took things home in 1:30.43, crushing a long-standing Clearfield team record in the event (1:31.13).

"The 200 free relay team record was set in 1992 - we even went through the (John) Lytle years and didn't break it," Morrison said. "So they're ecstatic that they broke our team record. They shattered it."

Krchnak came from behind in the second leg, but the Bisons couldn't shake St. Marys until Flanagan hit the pool, gritting out a half-second victory.

Flanagan also put together a shining run in the 200 free, finishing almost five seconds clear of runner-up Matt Anderson from Bradford. Fellow Bison Brady Mulhollem also nabbed a podium spot with a third-place finish.

"Shay was just phenomenal," Morrison said. "That was probably the most mentally prepared I've seen him."

Meanwhile, the girls were putting together a less flashy, but equally as impressive effort, with every member of the Lady Bisons besting their personal times and grabbing team points along the way.

"One hundred percent drops is outstanding," Morrison said. "It's more than you could ask for. I'm real pleased with my girls. Wow, a lot of drops.

"We're thrilled to be in third and possibly move up tomorrow. We didn't really come over here with the goal to be regional champs, but we'll give it a shot."

The girls 200 medley relay team opened with a fifth-place podium finish, and things only got better from there.

A trio of runner-up finishes pushed a handful of Lady Bisons into the state meet, including the members of the 200 free relay team - Brandie Centi, Branda Smeltzer, Ashley Durandetta and Marisa Howell - who swam a 1:45.97 for second place.

Howell also just missed out on a win in the 100 fly, where teammate Kaylee Bowser finished fourth.

Centi also powered her way to a 25.92 second-place finish and a state berth in the 50 free.

Moments earlier, the boys sent another individual qualifier through, as Krchnak cruised to a five-and-a-half second margin of victory and a meet record in the 200 IM.

The Bisons also took podium spots in the 50 free, where Mumma and DeCasper finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

The meet marked a return for Mumma, who missed much of the regular season with an out-of-pool injury.

Now Clearfield turns its focus to today's action. With neither of the top two girls teams offering up divers, the Lady Bisons look to make up some ground when Class AA diving jumps off at noon.

The afternoon also features Class AA swimming, which begins at 3:30, when the boys will look to do even more damage behind Flanagan and Krchnak.

The two seniors will take to the pool for their best events, the 500 free and 100 breast, on Day 2 of the meet.

"Our two top boys had three swims today, and they only have one swim tomorrow," Morrison said.

"That will absolutely relax them. They had success today, so it's going to carry over."

Results

Girls

Team Standings and Key

1. Westmont Hilltop (WH) 156; 2. Bradford (B) 106; 3. Clearfield (C) 87; 4. Bellefonte (BE) 65; 5. Ligonier Valley (LV) 55; 6. Somerset (S) 47; 7. St. Marys (SM) 43; 8. Central Cambria (CC) 38; 9. Brookville (BR) 29; 10. Northern Cambria (NC) 19; 11. Tie-Richland (R) and Huntingdon (H) 18; 13. Marion Center (MC) 15; 14. Tyrone (T) 13; 15. Bishop McCort (BM) 11; 16. Cambria Heights (CH) 2; 17. Conemaugh Township (CT).

Individual Results

200 MR: 1. Bradford 1:56.10. 200 Free: 1. Pascarella, B, 2:00.23; 2. Miller, WH; 3. Rullo, CT. 200 IM: 1. K. Payne, LV, 2:20.17; 2. Noll, WH; 3. Risaliti, CC. 50 Free: 1. Motley, WH, 25.63; 2. Centi, C; 3. Kovach, WH. 100 Fly: 1. Noll, WH, 1:03.73; 2. Howell, C; 3. Risaliti, CC. 200 FR: 1. Westmont Hilltop 1:43.88.

Boys

Team Standings and Key

1. Clearfield (C) 131; 2. St. Marys (SM) 90; 3. Bradford (B) 69; 4. Bellefonte (BE) 60; 5. Central (CE) 55; 6. Tie-Tyrone (T) and Somerset (S) 51; 8. Westmont Hilltop (WH) 40; 9. Bishop McCort (BM) 38; 10. Brookville (BR) 32.5; 11. Richland (R) 27; 12. Huntingdon (H) 22; 13. Central Cambria (CC) 17; 14. Marion Center (MC) 12; 15. Ligonier Valley (LV) 10; 16. Cambria Heights (CH) 2; 17. Lewistown (L) 1; 18. Cranberry (CR); 19. Bedford (BD).

Individual Results

200 MR: 1. Clearfield (Flanagan, Krchnak, Peterson, Shirey) 1:40.90. 200 Free: 1. Flanagan, C, 1:46.65; 2. Anderson, B; 3. Mulhollem, C. 200 IM: 1. Krchnak, C, 2:01.05; 2. Beichner, CR; 3. Benson, BE. 50 Free: 1. Ward, WH, 21.51; 2. Dippold, SM; 3. Schwab, B. 100 Fly: 1. Smith, BM, 52.26; 2. Cotter, SM; 3. Stair, BD. 200 FR: Clearfield (DeCasper, Krchnak, Mumma, Flanagan) 1:30.43.