TAMAQUA - The names Boran and Kanaskie are pretty familiar to Schuylkill League swimming fans.
Wednesday, the two youngest saplings in those storied family trees stood as tall as sequoias in their Schuylkill League dual-meet debuts.
Freshmen Mark Boran of Blue Mountain and Rebecca Kanaskie of Tamaqua each had a hand in four victories in leading their respective teams to key wins.
Boran won the 200 IM, 100 backstroke and swam on two winning relays as the Blue Mountain boys opened defense of their Schuylkill League title with a 98-88 victory.
Kanaskie captured the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke and swam on two winning relays as the Tamaqua girls knocked off the defending league champion Eagles 101-79.
"I was just extremely excited to swim," Kanaskie said. "We've been working really, really hard for this. I just wanted to give it my all.
"Our goal today was to give 100 percent, and I really tried to do that. I think I did."
Kanaskie's big night helped the Blue Raiders (2-0, 1-0 SL) win 10-of-12 events and place 1-2 in four of those victories.
Tamaqua's veterans, Joann Butkus (50 free, 100 fly) and Miranda Amey (200 free, 500 free) each won two events, while each swimming on two winning relays. Rebecca Minehan grabbed Tamaqua's other victory, placing first in diving.
When you add a pair of second-place finishes by Danielle DeCindio, Carly Trovinger and Makayla Boyle, the Blue Raiders' depth and balance were too much for the Eagles to overcome.
"Before this meet, I spent a lot of time thinking about the lineup,"
Tamaqua coach Ashley Stanek said. "The girls were anxious and excited before this meet, and I told them they needed to step up.
"I felt they all really wanted it and wanted to do well today."
Kanaskie's best effort came in the 200 freestyle relay, where she anchored a quartet that included Amey, Trovinger and Amber Gulick. Kanaskie hit the water with the lead, but had to hold off a hard-charging Maddie Bartush for the victory.
Bartush (100 free, 100 back) won two events for the Eagles (0-1, 0-1), who sliced Tamaqua's lead to 81-69 with two events left. Kanaskie and Trovinger then placed 1-2 in the 100 breaststroke to ice the victory.
"I just really, really gave it my all," Kanaskie said. "I was really trying ... every underwater, every stroke, that was everything I had. I really hurt after that."
Boran, the fourth member of his family (Patti, Tommy, Jackie) to swim for Blue Mountain, had two impressive swims in back-to-back events to help the Eagles break open a tight match.
With Blue Mountain up 64½-61½, Boran outraced Matt Stanek in the third leg of the 200 freestyle relay to give the Eagles the victory.
In the next event, Boran scored the upset of the night, upending District 11 Class AA silver medalist Jake Kropp in the 100 backstroke.
"I don't think he knew who I was before then," Boran said of the backstroke. "I needed to do well, because it would guarantee our team's win for the night. I just kept going, moving my arms and pushing myself.
"It felt really good (to win)."
Nathanael Marino (200 free, 500 free) won two individual events and swam on two winning relays for Blue Mountain (1-0, 1-0), while Lyle Luckenbill captured diving and Tanner Willey took the 100 breaststroke.
Ethan Eberts (50 free), Ben Turrano (100 fly) and Kropp (100 free) won events for Tamaqua (1-1, 0-1), which trailed by just one point after seven events.
That's when Boran stepped to the forefront and helped the Eagles pull away.
"He's been swimming since he was little," Blue Mountain coach Sandy Englert said. "He's a hard worker, and he just listens to everything.
"He's pretty good in everything. He's kind of like Nathanael ... you can put him in anything."
Kanaskie and Boran have both been swimming since they were in preschool, and having older siblings that were successful in swimming has eased their transition to the high school level.
Kanaskie's older sister, Caroline, was a two-time state qualifier, while Boran's older brother Tommy was a three-time state qualifier and older sister Jackie was a District 11 silver medalist.
"You kind of get the feel for how it's going to go and how everything is going to feel when you're in the water," Rebecca Kanaskie said, "but it's a totally different experience when you're actually at the meets and it's you and not Caroline. It's really great."
Added Ashley Stanek: "This is part of her lifestyle in a way. She's mature with swimming, and she definitely demonstrates a calm confidence about her."