Entering the 2018-2019 season, a few things about the Parkland girls swimming team emerged. First, the team was talented, but inexperienced. Second, its most reliable talent was an indefatigable senior by the name of Ally Lin.

Lin did not disappoint, performing brilliantly for coach Robert Robitaille throughout the season. Her prodigious work ethic, superior swimming techniques and a never-say-die attitude served to inspire her teammates and legions of Parkland swimming fans.

During the 2019 District 11 Class 3A Championships she continued her commitment to excellence, claiming gold in the girls 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:05.22,

“Honestly, I am so happy with my performance,” said Lin. “The whole team swam so well, even when we were coming in as underdogs. I’m so proud.”

She was only getting started, blowing away the competition with a time of 4:59.78 in the girls 500-yard freestyle. The effort was easily good enough for first place, more than 12 seconds ahead of teammate sophomore Olivia Stevenson at 5;11.96 who gave a strong performance in her own right.

“I wanted to go under five (seconds) for 500 free,” Lin said. “I just did it, barely.”

Her high school career will end at the PIAA State AAA Championships at Bucknell University. The Class 3A state championships will be held Friday and Saturday March 15-16.

Lin wasn’t the only Parkland girls swimmer who distinguished themselves at the district meet.

Freshman Kayla Johnson took home gold when she won the girls 200-yard freestyle in 1:55.35 and later took third in the girls 100-yard freestyle race, finishing :53.67.

The Lady Trojans also took home third place in the 200-yard freestyle relay as sophomore Lauren Ceh, Laurel Krause, Johnson and Lin finished 1:38.84, just an eyelash behind Liberty at 1:38.79.

The foursome of junior Kira Colarusso, Johnson, Krause and Lin provided superlative swimming in winning the 400-yard freestyle relay with a 3:34.29 mark, just a shade ahead of a strong challenge from rival Emmaus at 3:34.50.

For the district tournament overall, Parkland’s came in second place with 434 points. Emmaus won the girls team title with 509.5 points.

“You have to be so dedicated to come to practice everyday, especially with Robo (coach Robitaille),” Lin said. “It puts so much pressure on everyone, but yet everyone managed to do it. So we all learned how to take care of ourselves and work hard. It’s just great.”