Freedom High School junior, Helen Hsu, won the gold medal in the 100 backstroke at the District XI Swimming Championships on March 1 at Parkland High School.

"I was happy. It was kind of the highlight of entire districts," Hsu said.

Hsu finished the race with a time of 56.82.

"I wasn't really trying to win. I was just going for the time," she said.

Hsu realized the competition would be tough, including teammate, Carly DelFranco, who swam in the lane next to Hsu.

"I just gave it all I had. It was my last individual race, and everyone gets excited at the end," said Hsu. "

I tightened up at the last 20 yards and then just tried to survive. I really hurt at the end. I looked up at the scoreboard, and then I knew [I had won]. I actually had no idea where I was."

Hsu will compete at the PIAA State Swimming Championships, scheduled for March 12-15, at Bucknell University.

DelFranco, Shannon Howell, and Kelly Kopko will also compete at states after having won bids there. DelFranco was second in the 200 IM and third in the 100 back, Howell was second in the 50 free and third in the 500 free.

Hsu also had a third-place finish in the 100 free.

Hsu said, "Even though I performed well, I'm happy with how our team did. Our coach [Jon Larson] never coached a team that dropped so much time."