Whitehall swim coach Pete Rile called an emergency huddle of sorts midway through the Zephyrs’ meet against the Freedom Patriots, who were leading the Zephs before the diving event and who would continue to increase that lead.

“We thought we were gonna fare a little better early on, and Freedom did an excellent job, had a really good lineup against what we had, so we realized we were in a lot of trouble because they had 10 more points from diving that we didn’t have, and we were down significantly,” said Coach Rile. “We knew we had some strength left, so it came out well in our favor.”

Despite the points from Freedom’s male divers Cody Smith and John Lowey that extended the Patriots’ lead, Whitehall’s boys came back to pull out a 97-82 victory over the Patriot boys team on Jan. 3 at Freedom.

“The come-from-behind wins are always the best,” said Whitehall senior Gabe O’Brien. “I definitely think [the 200 free relay] was the turning point. The 1-2-3 in the backstroke (Aaron Stinner, O’Brien, Colton Reed) was helpful as well. After the diving break, Coach talked to us and then we were ready.”

Leading up to the 200 free relay, where the Zephyrs picked up 12 points on first and second-place finishes, Whitehall’s Glenn Kline won the 200 free by a hair in 2:17.67. Freedom’s Griffin Kleinle was second in 2:17.88.

Stinner won the 100 butterfly in 55.21, Ian Thomas took first in the 500 free in 5:41.40, and O’Brien won the 100 free by a touch in 57.87. Freedom’s Giovanni Camaione, who got a lead after the last turn, came in second in 58.37.

Said O’Brien, “I knew my coach wanted me to go a :57, and I had it set in my head for the whole race from the start, so after I saw [Camaione] in front of me...We were down. Coach was talking about it. He gathered us over here, and someone had to come in, and we as a team did it, but we needed the win. Some people weren’t feeling well, so others had to step up, and a lot of people stepped up today to help get this win.”

Freedom’s boys had been building their lead over Whitehall with Micah Lawser’s first-place finish in the 200 IM in 2:28.27 and his second-place finish in the 100 fly.

The Pates also scored points with second and third-place finishes in the 200 medley relay, the 200 free, the 100 free, and a first-place finish by AJ Black in the 50 free with a time of 24.38.

“Before Christmas break, I had done [the 50 free], I didn’t do too hot, and I wasn’t very happy,” Black said. “So then over Christmas break, it just lit that fire underneath me, and it pushed me all through Christmas break and pushed me through this meet, and I did the race and got out with a time that I’m happy with.”

Later in the meet, Black and Whitehall’s Thomas faced off in the 100 breaststroke won by Thomas in a close race, 1:04.63-1:05.36.

“I like to think that with any fast swimmer, you’re neck and neck. You’re pushing them. They’re pushing you. It’s one of the best ways you can go a best time,” said Black. “Tonight, I went a season best in that race, and I believe he went a season best as well. He’s a great swimmer, especially coming off the 500 and the 200 free relay and going back to back and then going a season best.”

Black anchored the winning 400 free relay team that included Lawser, Matthew Gould, and Camaione.

“I really like where we’re at right now,” Black said. “It’s great to see all the hurdles that we’ve overcome as a team, having to wake up at 8 in the morning for those Christmas break practices. This team’s really come far. I’m really proud of both the girls team and the boys team.”

Freedom coach Alexa Kutch echoed Black’s sentiment.

“The boys were closer than I thought they’d be,” Kutch said. “Last year, it was pretty far apart, so I’m happy that the people who came to the meet showed up. I couldn’t be happier. This was a surprise. [Whitehall’s] a good, strong team, so I’m pretty happy that our boys were able to live up to the expectations they had.”