"They're right at the top," Clearfield head coach Jackie Morrison said. "I love Shay and Hoss (Krchnak) as if they were my own, and they know that. The whole team is going to miss them tremendously.

"It meant a lot for them to go out on a high note. Shay and I talked about that all afternoon."

Flanagan clawed his way into 500 free championship final at Bucknell's Kinney Natatorium, where he swam the fastest time of his career and set a new school record at 4:42.50. The swim got him sixth place and another All-State mention.

"That was phenomenal," Morrison said. "That's the best I've ever seen him swim in my life. That's the way you want to end your high school career.

"I'm so proud of Shay I get chills. I really wanted him to do something special, and I thought that was huge - to shatter the team record by three seconds."

Flanagan's fifth career medal helped him grab another Clearfield landmark, as the only Bison to earn a state medal in each of his four years.

Not to be outdone, Krchnak flew through perhaps the most incredible race of the meet, finishing third in the 100 breast finals. Those 100 yards moved at a torrid pace, as Krchnak dueled with Riverside's Jon Szakelyhidi and Bloomsburg's Zach Stephens.

Szakelyhidi got the edge at 57.03, as the top three finished within half-a-second of each other and Szakelyhidi and Stephens both topped the state record, which had just been set by Stephens in the morning prelim.

"I'm happy with what I did," Krchnak said. "I can't complain. The field just got so fast. All three of us beat the state record set two years ago. ... I did everything I wanted to do."

In fact, Krchnak's time of 57.49 would have been the state record if he had swam it only a day before.

"That's just the sport," he said. "That's how it is. I don't have anything bad to say about it, I'm happy right now. Third place - I'll take it."

His exceptional time earned him National Federation Honor Roll, instantly qualifying him as an All-American and putting him in rare company among former Bisons.

Abby Mitchell (100 breast) and John Lytle (100 free) are the only Clearfield alums to have reached that milestone.

For the two seniors, the crowning achievements of their careers help them to escape from the shadow of perhaps the most revered Clearfield swimmer - Lytle.

"I think it's quite an accomplishment," Flanagan said.

 "When I was a freshman, John (Lytle) was a senior, and he got two state championships, and you look at the school record board and you see John Lytle all over it.

"Everything that Hoss and I did in our careers, I really think was based in comparison to what John did. Hoss breaking the state record (in the 100 breast), even though he didn't (set the new one), that's something that he did that John couldn't do. I won five medals and got one every year, and John didn't get that."

Not only that, but now there are just as many Flanagans and Krchnaks on that record board as there are Lytles.

Krchnak started his day in impressive fashion, swimming a 57.94 in the morning race to reach his personal goal of a 57-second run. His excitement was hardly dampened by the fact he was inched out by Bloomsburg's Stephens, who set a then-new state record at 57.38.

"(Krchnak) came onto the scene last year," Morrison said, "and in his short period of time at the state meet has really left his mark."

A trio of Bisons participated in the preliminary 500 free event, with Flanagan swimming a 4:45.87 to qualify for the finals.

Kraig Peterson bettered his seed time by two seconds and finished second in his heat, notching a 4:56.67 but missing out on a return for the night's events.

A last-minute entry when York Suburban's Ian Kruper was scratched from the race, Brady Mulhollem got a chance to hit the pool for the 500 as well, swimming to the wall in 5:06.04.

The boys' final relay team went through the 400 free relay in 3:30.91 in the morning's prelims.

The group didn't push through to the next round, but the race proved to be valuable experience for Justin DeCasper, Jordan Mumma, Connor Shirey and Kraig Peterson, three of whom return for Clearfield next year.

In diving action, Bisons Steven Williams and Jason Maines hit the boards for a mid-day event. Both failed to slide into the semifinal round, as Williams bowed out with a total score of 143.65 and Maines finished with a 112.05.

NOTES: In girls' action, Mary Moser (100 free) and Lindsay Vrooman (500 free) earned their second gold medals of the meet. ... For the boys, Blackhawk's Mark Stepanian (100 free) became a double winner. ... Hershey sophomore David Nolan wrapped up the meet with four gold medals and three state records. He was named the meet's Outstanding Swimmer.

Boys

Team Standings

1. Hershey 269; 2. Bloomsburg 160.5; 3. Shady Side Academy 144; 4. York Suburban 128; 5. Franklin 88; 6. Clearfield 82; 7. Lansdale Catholic 78; 8. Fairview 68; 9. Indiana 64; 10. Abington Heights and Hampton 60.

Preliminaries

500 freestyle: 1. Conner Calarie, Highlands 4:38.79; 2. John Hauser, St. Pius X 4:39.42; 3. David Paulk, Shady Side Academy 4:39.69; 4. Ryan Carey, Fleetwood 4:40.82; 5. Matt Ramey, Southmoreland 4:41.97; 6. Jon Seiferth, Hampton 4:43.51; 7. Shay Flanagan, Clearfield 4:45.87; 8. Gabriel Thran, Abington Heights 4:46.32;

9. Keagan Collins, Salisbury Twp. 4:48.54; 10. Stephen Rowland, Upper Moreland 4:49.82; 11. Benjamin Bauchwitz, Hershey 4:50.51; 12. Tyler Long, Selinsgrove 4:51.88; 13. Zach Oatis, Saucon Valley 4:52.65; 14. Eric Fairchild, Corry 4:53.13; 15. Taylor Cole, Danville 4:53.32; 16. Jeff Mikitka, Fleetwood 4:53.79;

17. Zack Haney, Danville 4:54.22; 18. Matt Bason, Danville 4:55.57; 19. Kyle Berkow, Hampton 4:55.81; 20. Kraig Peterson, Clearfield 4:56.67; 21. Brendan Lacey, Belle Vernon 4:57.83; 22. Dan Mazur, Seton-LaSalle 4:57.91; 23. John Kelley, Burrell 4:58.63; 24. Michael LaCroce, Palmyra 4:59.65;

25. Will Schlosser, Harriton 5:00.16; 26. Seth Brooks, Grove City 5:00.47; 27. Ryan Mitchelltree, Moon 5:00.70; 28. Scott Churner, Indiana 4:00.83; 29. John Howard, Archbishop Carroll 5:01.45; 30. Rob Wagner, Harriton 5:01.45; 31. David Tunick, Quaker Valley 5:01.72; 32. Brady Mulhollem, Clearfield 5:06.04.

100 breaststroke: 1. Zach Stephens, Bloomsburg 57.38 (PIAA record. Old: 57.53, Kyle Shoemaker, Saucon Valley, 2007); 2. Mark Krchnak, Clearfield 57.94; 3. Jon Szakelyhidi, Riverside (District 7) 58.05; 4. Pat Augustine, Lansdale Catholic 58.36; 5. Derek Nelson, Donegal 59.57; 6. Christian Achilles, South Park 59.99; 7. Matt Heverly, Phoenixville 1:00.24; 8. Andrew Bean, Fairview 1:00.30;

9. Gregory Oprendek, Archbishop Wood 1:00.31; 10. Michael Garza, Hampton; 11. Kyle Ruddle, Hershey 1:00.55; 12. Sean Kennedy, Abington Heights 1:00.94; 13. Mitchell Veith, Hershey 1:01.07; 14. Thomas Malloy, Lancaster Catholic 1:01.35; 15. Chris Gregg, Grove City 1:01.43; 16. Steve Torre, South Fayette 1:01.51;

17. Mark Grant, General McLane 1:01.61; 18. Andrew Cotter, St. Marys 1:01.77; 19. Drew Archibald, Grove City 1:01.99; 20. Mike O'Hanlon, Springfield-Delco 1:02.01; 21. Alex Joyce, Scranton Prep 1:02.18; 22. John Hughes, Lancaster Catholic 1:02.26; 23. Everett Benson, Bellefonte 1:02.32; 24. Tyler Gross, Pottsgrove 1:02.51;

25. Mustafa Chalabi, Towanda 1:02.58; 26. David Capatch, Lewisburg 1:02.82; 27. Josh Cillo, Montoursville 1:03.17; 28. R.J. Langlois, Springfield Twp. 1:03.69; 29. Will Stiglitz, Cranberry 1:03.89; 30. Drew Billon, Indiana 1:04.03; 31. Jon Maltz, Harriton 1:04.13; 32. John Deutsch, Souderton 1:04.14.

400 freestyle relay: 1. Hershey 3:08.57; 2. Bloomsburg 3:12.58; 3. Shady Side Academy 3:14.80; 4. York Suburban 3:15.90; 5. Strath Haven 3:17.04; 6. Franklin 3:17.08; Grove City 3:17.49; 8. Muhlenberg 3:18.09;

9. Hampton 3:18.26; 10. Boiling Springs 3;18.63; 11. Abington Heights 3:18.89; 12. Springfield-Delco 3;19.26; 13. Fairview 3:19.26; 14. Springfield Twp. 3:19.72; 15. Harriton 3:20.98; 16. Lansdale Catholic 3:21.42;

17. Moon 3:22.00; 18. Danville 3:22.83; 19. Indiana 3;24.46; 20. Salisbury Twp. 3:24.67; 21. Riverside (District 7) 3;25.65; 22. Bradford 3:26.38; 23. Clearfield (Justin DeCasper, Kraig Peterson, Jordan Mumma, Connor Shirey) 3:30.91. Disqualified, Schuylkill Valley (early takeoff).

Finals

1-meter diving: 1. Jordan Harris, Philipsburg-Osceola 488.70 (PIAA record. Old: 478.15, Alaric Eby, Dallas, 2006); 2. David Magaro, East Pennsboro 471.65; 3. Jared Scheck, Shady Side Academy 444.00; 4. Mac Lewis, North East 442.35; 5. Daniel Roberts, Fairview 433.75; 6. Peter Cialkowski, Salisbury Twp. 432.55; 7. Dan Frazier, Blackhawk 418.75; 8. David Principato, Notre Dame 418.30;

9. Nathan Kohuth, Derry Area 410.85; 10. Tyler Dunsmore, Big Spring 407.60; 11. Joseph Esposito, Holy Ghost Prep 395.70; 12. Brett Cartier, Berwick 391.65; 13. Ryan Thomas, Hanover Area (District 2) 377.95; 14. Tanner Wilfong, Hershey 376.00; 15. Eddie Mills, North East 373.80; 16. Lucas Kachurick, Elizabeth Forward 364.90;

17. Pat McPeak, Upper Moreland 258.05; 18. Jonathan Jones, Uniontown 250.45; 19. Joshua Daugherty, Athens 244.50; 20. Alec Lane, Bloomsburg 244.10; 21. Joey Shutka, Moon 146.15; 22. Steven Williams, Clearfield 143.65; 23. Jason Maines, Clearfield 112.05; 24. Michael Harshman, Hampton 102.25.

500 freestyle: 1. John Hauser, St. Pius X 4:32.53; 2. David Paulk, Shady Side Academy 4:36.13; 3. Conner Calarie, Highlands 4:38.34; 4. Ryan Carey, Fleetwood 4:40.65; 5. Matt Ramey, Southmoreland 4:41.42; 6. Shay Flanagan, Clearfield 4:42.50; 7. Jon Seiferth, Hampton 4:42.75; 8. Gabriel Thran, Abington Heights 4:44.17.

Consolations: 9. Tyler Long, Selinsgrove 4:46.16; 10. Keagan Collins, Salisbury Twp. 4:46.30; 11. Stephen Rowland, Upper Moreland 4:50.19; 12. Eric Fairchild, Corry 4:52.05; 13. Zach Oatis, Saucon Valley 4:52.92; 14. Benjamin Bauchwitz, Hershey 4:54.26; 15. Jeff Mikitka, Fleetwood 4:54.68; 16. Taylor Cole, Danville 4:54.71.

100 breaststroke: 1. Jon Szakelyhidi, Riverside (District 7) 57.03 (PIAA record. Old: 57.38, Zach Stephens, Bloomsburg, 2009 prelims); 2. Zach Stephens, Bloomsburg 57.18; 3. Mark Krchnak, Clearfield 57.49; 4. Pat Augustine, Lansdale Catholic 58.22; 5. Christian Achilles, South Park 59.90; 6. Derek Nelson, Donegal 1:00.06; 7. Matt Heverly, Phoenixville 1:00.10; 8. Andrew Bean, Fairview 1:00.75.

Consolations: 9. Kyle Ruddle, Hershey 1:00.50; 10. Michael Garza, Hampton 1:00.64; 11. Mitchell Veith, Hershey 1:00.68; 12. Sean Kennedy, Abington Heights 1:00.90; 13. Gregory Oprendek, Archbishop Wood 1:01.13; 14. Steven Torre, South Fayette 1:01.21; 15. Thomas Malloy, Lancaster Catholic 1:01.70; 16. Chris Gregg, Grove City 1:01.82.