Freedom High School's swim team captured six first-place finishes at the District XI Class AAA Swimming Championships last Friday and Saturday.

The Patriot girls opened the district meet on Friday with a victory in the 200 medley relay when Carly DelFranco, Kelly Kopko, Helen Hsu, and Shannon Howell took first place with a time of 1:48.28.

Hsu also competed in the 200 IM, winning in 2:04.92.

"I took it out in the first 50, trying to cruise and not go too hard," Hsu said.

With Parkland's Erica Freeman in the lane next to her, Hsu was just hoping for a nice race between the two.

"I train with her, and it was really cool because we both didn't know we were going to go that fast," said Hsu.

Freeman's time was 2:05.51.

"I beat her at the turn from back to breast, and I was marginally better in the 50 free," Hsu said.

The following day, Hsu won the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.05.

"I didn't feel as much pressure because I won the other event. I just wanted to improve my [56.6] time. I felt like my legs were tight in the second 50, but this time, I didn't die like I used to," she said.

Also on Saturday, Shannon Howell, DelFranco, Rileigh Ellis, and Hsu placed second in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:34.62.

"We knew Parkland was going to win, so basically we were swimming against Nazareth," said Hsu. "Shannon started really well and kept up with Madeline Blair, who was getting a lot of waves. Carly swam her best time. When Rileigh dove in, we were tied or a little behind Nazareth, but she gave me a full body lead. I got a little nervous, but I held Victoria Palochik off."

Howell also took third place in the 50 free with a time of 24.28.

"I think I did well, but I didn't go my best time, so I'm hoping at states, I will do better," she said.

In preparation for districts, Howell was more focused on the 500 free, which she won with a time of 4:59.04.

"I was seeded third, so I knew it would be close, and I was really nervous.," Howell said. "When I started, I had to tell myself to keep under control and not go too fast. Towards the end, it started to hurt, and I couldn't see Tori [Connelly, who placed second], so I just kept telling myself to push.

"When I finished, I looked up at the scoreboard, and saw that I just won, and I thought, this is unbelieveable."

As a team, Freedom's girls placed fourth, tying with Nazareth, scoring 247 points. Freedom's boys placed fifth with 182 points.

Patriot senior, Sam Magnan, was a double event winner, first in the 200 free with a time of 1:41.25, and then in the 500 free with a time of 4:30.17.

"I didn't feel as good as I hoped [in the 200 free], and it hurt a lot worse than I thought, and I was a little slower than I wanted," he said. "The 500 free felt really good. I was consistent through the whole race, but no one was pushing me, so I can only go so fast."

Magnan won by 11 seconds.

The PIAA State Swimming and Diving Championships are scheduled for March 13 and 14 at Bucknell University.

"I want to build my endurance up, keep practicing hard, and see how fast I can go for states," Magnan said.