The Chambersburg 400 freestyle relay team, from left to right, Brandon Estep, Derek Estep, Alex Kaczmark and Joseph Decker, placed third at the District 3 Championships on Saturday.

NEW KINGSTOWN — The Chambersburg boys swimming team had five finishes in the top 15 Saturday at the District 3 Swimming Championships and it helped put the Trojans in fifth place in the team standings.

“The boys swam great overall tonight,” Chambersburg coach Chad White said.

Derek Estep came close to claiming his second gold medal of the weekend. A winner Friday of the 200 freestyle, Estep placed second in the 100 freestyle. He swam a time of 46.13, just short of Northern Lebanon’s Carlos Hidalgo (46.00).

“Derek had a very fast 100 free and should have much more in the tank for his last 25 (meters) come states,” White said.

The Trojans’ 400 freestyle relay clinched a berth in the PIAA Championships with a third-place finish. Chambersburg posted a time of 3:12.87, just behind Wilson (3:09.70) and Gov. Mifflin (3:10.52).

The team included Alex Kaczmark, Derek Estep, Brandon and Joseph Decker.

White said, “The relay did amazing for their third-place finish. They raced well and stayed competitive the whole time. A great team effort.”

Kaczmark also placed 12th in the 100 freestyle (48.03), Brandon Estep was 13th in the 100 backstroke (54.36) and Decker was 15th in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.30).

“Alex was the fastest freshman in the 100 free,” White said, “and Brandon had a season-best time in the backstroke. Joseph had a lifetime best in the breast and made it into the top 16 for the first time in his career.”

In the diving competition, which was held earlier in the week, the Trojans’ Keagan Myers placed ninth.

Shippensburg’s Bryce Pattillo was sixth in the diving.

Margot Ritchie

On the girls side, Chambersburg’s best finish was a 16th in the 100 breaststroke by Margot Ritchie, with a time of 1:10.07.

Trojan coach Hali Cormany said, “Margot has been working really hard and her breaststroke was close to her best time from a few weeks ago. Maddie Shifler (26th, 100 free) was right on her best this season.

“Lily Evans (24th, 500 free) has been really focusing on her stroke rate in the 500. She swam a smart race and went a season-best today. I’m really proud of the girls this weekend and this season.”

Waynesboro had a successful day, getting a third from Eve Phillips in the 100 freestyle (52.39) on its way to taking 12th in the team standings.

Also for the Maidens, the 400 free relay team of Mra Beck, Emma Swanson, Brenna Naddeo and Phillips placed 11th in 3:43.90.

Earlier in the week, Shippensburg’s Kylie Ramsey took ninth in the diving.

District 3 Swimming Championships
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
Boys Class 3A
100 freestyle — 2.Derek Estep (Chbg) 46.13; 12.Alex Kaczmark (Chbg) 48.03
100 backstroke — 13.Brandon Estep (Chbg) 54.36
100 breaststroke — 15.Joseph Decker (Chbg) 1:01.30; 21.Sean Detwiler (G-A) 1:02.89
400 freestyle relay — 3.Chambersburg (Kaczmark, D.Estep, B.Estep, Decker), 3:12.87
One-meter diving — 6.Bryce Pattillo (Ship) 178.90; 9.Keagan Myers (Chbg) 155.85
Team standings — 1.Wilson 392; 2.Gov. Mifflin 187.50; 3.Hershey 148; Cumberland Valley 145; 5.Chambersburg 139; 25.Shippensburg 13

Girls Class 3A
100 freestyle — 3.Eve Phillips (Way) 52.39; 25.Mya Beck (Way) 56.48; 26.Maddie Shifler (Chbg) 56.63
500 freestyle — 24.Lily Evans (Chbg) 5:31.22
100 backstroke — 29.Shelby Heberlig (Ship) 1:05.20
100 breaststroke — 16.Margot Ritchie (Chbg) 1:10.07
400 freestyle relay — 11.Waynesboro (Beck, Emma Swanson, Brenna Naddeo, Phillips), 3:43.90
One-meter diving — 9.Kylie Ramsey (Ship) 153.40
Team standings: 1.Wilson 372.50; 2.Hershey 283; 3.Exeter Twp. 203, 4.Muhlenburg 180; 5.Gov. Mifflin 134; 12.Waynesboro 63; 23.Chambersburg 17.5; 28.Shippensburg 9