SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - The Blue Mountain boys' swim team took a major step toward a second straight Schuylkill League title Thursday night.
The Blue Mountain girls' quest for a repeat got a much-needed boost as well.
Getting solid performances up and down their lineups, the Eagles swept Schuylkill Haven in a matchup of Schuylkill League title contenders.
Nathanael Marino and Mark Boran each won two events and swam on two winning relays as the Eagles boys defeated the Hurricanes 97-83.
On the girls' side, Maddie Bartush won two events and freshman Erica Donohue captured a key individual win late to lift Blue Mountain to a 92-84 victory over the previously unbeaten Haven girls.
The boys' win sets up a first-place battle with Pottsville on Jan. 21 in Orwigsburg.
"This was real important to us. We prepared real hard for this," said Marino, who won the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly. "We wanted to prove that diving wasn't the only reason why we won last year.
"This year we brought it together, worked as a team and won as a team."
Bartush won the 200 IM and 100 butterfly and swam the anchor leg on the Eagles' victorious 200 freestyle relay team. The Eagles, who lost 101-79 to Tamaqua on Dec. 10, need help to retain their title.
A loss Thursday, however, would have eliminated Blue Mountain altogether.
"We were trying to motivate the girls to step it up, especially the young ones," Bartush said. "We had a motivational speech, and they all stepped up.
"I haven't done the butterfly much this season, and it felt good to do it again. The girls did an amazing job."
The key to both of Blue Mountain's victories was key performances by some of each team's younger swimmers.
Boran, a freshman, won the 200 IM and 100 backstroke. Fellow freshman Stephen Johnson swam on two winning relays and captured the 50 freestyle, part of a dominating start that saw the Eagles (3-1, 2-0 SL) win the first six events en route to a 55-33 lead at the halfway point.
"Our freshmen are doing real good," Marino said. "They're learning very fast and are a great help to
our team. Mark Boran and Stephen set up our relay. They do great work for us."
Added Blue Mountain coach Sandy Englert: "Stephen was a surprise. He really came out of nowhere. The other guys, too ... they've been up to the challenge. They seem to be coming together. It's a very competitive team, which I love."
Schuylkill Haven (2-2, 1-2) rallied late, as Billy Sieck (100 free), Ian McGowan (500 free) and Nick Semanco (100 breast) earned wins in a surge that saw the Hurricanes outpoint the Eagles in four of the last six events.
The early lead, however, was too much for Haven to overcome.
"We just don't have enough numbers. That is our downfall, and it's been Haven's downfall for a long time," Schuylkill Haven coach Sharon Wenrich said. "I had kids in things that I never put them in before and they did a wonderful job. Just not enough numbers."
The Schuylkill Haven girls (3-1, 2-1) won seven of the 12 events, as Mary Zimmerman (200 free, 100 free) and Allison Adams (50 free, 100 back) were double-winners and helped the Hurricanes win the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Freshman Taylor Felty added a victory in the 500 freestyle.
The Eagles (2-2, 1-1), however, used their depth to overcome the Hurricanes' victories as JoJo Jacobson, Carleigh Bogotuik, Rebecca Donohue, Rachel Juritsch, Jordan Gormley, Serena Reidler and Courtney Dukmen each had a top-three finish in an event.
It was the first time Dukmen competed in a meet this season after missing most of the season. Dukmen suffered a broken back playing flag football in gym class last fall.
"From Tamaqua to now, we have a totally different team," Englert said. "It went from bonding, to crying together, to drills they were cursing me out for. In the end, they've become the family that we were last year. They all want to do what they can for the other person."
With the Hurricanes still within striking distance with two events left, Erica Donohue used a strong surge over the final 25 yards to win the 100 breaststroke, icing the Eagles' victory.
"I'm always really worried that something bad is going to happen," Donohue said. "Then I just calm myself down and tell myself I can do this. I like to start slow, then go really fast over the last two laps."