Stepping down from the medals podium, Liberty sophomore Adam Barlow stared at the bronze medal he’d captured for the 100 breaststroke at the PIAA Class 3A state swimming championships on March 12 at Bucknell University.

“That’s when it clicked for me...Ecstatic...Not expecting,” said Barlow. “I knew people would have some major dropping in time. I didn’t even know anything until after prelims.”

Among 32 breaststrokers from across the state, Barlow placed third in the preliminary swim several hours before finals, and when it counted most, repeated in third place with a time of 54.68 in the final.

“I could hear the crowd, but Evan’s whistle was so loud,” said Barlow regarding Coach Kocon. “It gave me an idea of how to push and kept me on pace.”

Liberty swim coach Reik Foust described the race as having a bang-bang-bang finish with LaSalle College’s Kyle Spaman taking first place in 53.83 and Williamsport’s Evan Summers placing second in 54.25.

“When we swam at Williamsport over Christmas, Evan and Adam went head-to-head, and Adam beat him,” said Coach Foust. “They certainly know each other.”

Minutes before the state final, Liberty coaches had the pool surrounded with Foust and Liberty athletic director/state swim meet announcer Fred Harris on the Lane 1 side, and coaches Evan Kocon and Jeff Matyus on the Lane 8 side.

“All you can do is watch now and hope that things come together, so I’m leaning over the edge, yelling at Adam to go, Fred’s trying to see, and even when Adam finished, we weren’t sure where, but I knew that as long as he did what we worked on, everything would take care of itself,” Foust said. “He swam a great, great second 50.”

Barlow was thrilled by the medal ceremony as he stood third from the top.

“Seeing a lot of friends that stuck around, four or five guys from Nazareth yelling and screaming, kids on the podium giving high-fives, I was definitely happy,” he said.

Relay teammates Jonah Korpics and Darren Nguyen were also there to celebrate. (Theodore Shang had to leave early.)

“I see it as I got my goal, but what is that new level I want to improve?” said Barlow, who also competed in the 200 IM but missed finals by one place.

Coach Foust believes that Barlow could be phenomenal in the 200 IM but that the Hurricanes got what they wanted last week, which was a 54 from Barlow in the morning at preliminaries and a 54 in the night session at the finals of the 100 breaststroke.

Foust also had high praise and appreciation for Harris.

“Fred is so supportive of us. He does so much for us, and I really believe he’s the best athletic director in District XI. He looks out for the kids, and he’s up there to celebrate that with us. It means a lot. It really does,” Foust said.