It seemed a like déjà vu for the Salisbury boys' swimming team.

Like last season's PIAA swimming meet in which the 400-yard freestyle relay team captured first place in the final event to secure the team's first state title in school history, there were heavy implications on that race once again.

While the opportunity at repeating as state champs looked like a bit of a stretch heading into the 400-yard freestyle relay, the Falcons sought to tie Trinity in the standings at 134 team points for state runner-ups. Salisbury was fourth in points (94) heading into that race, and Mars Area, which had 113 points, was in a comfortable position and had the second-fastest preliminary time.

Mars Area went on to win the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:12.57 to secure the top spot in Class AA boys with 153 points. Salisbury's third-place (3:13.12) finish in the event awarded the Falcons a bronze finish with 126 points at the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium.

"Coming down to this last relay, and figuring if we win we'll tie for runner-up, we thought that was pretty special," head coach Jason Mohring said. "The talent at this facility is just incredible."

"I know that every single one of us put every ounce of energy we had into the race," said Jon Anderson, who led off the relay. "If that was the best we could pull out at the very end of this big, long meet of ours, then I'm happy with it. We got third in the whole state. No matter what, that's still impressive."

That relay team of Anderson, Tim Costantini, Tyler Lesko and Mahlon Reihman led for a majority of the race until the final leg hit. Despite coming up short in that relay, the Falcons have capped another dominant season in the pool.

"Jon did a heck of a job," Mohring said. "I couldn't have asked much more out of him. I couldn't have asked more out of any of those guys. They all pretty much improved upon their splits from districts.

"[We had] a huge lead, and I thought we had it. But these other teams, they have really strong competitors and want it just as much as we do."

The 200-yard freestyle relay team earned the team's only gold medal of event, placing first with a time of 1:27.56 on Friday. The same four swimmers (Anderson, Costantini, Lesko and Reihman) helped bring home the top finish.

Anderson also put together an impressive display during his two individual events. He placed second in the 50-yard freestyle (21.05) and third in the 100-yard freestyle (46.40).

"I was personally happy with my events," Anderson said. "I took fifth [in the 100-free] and eighth [in the 200-free] in both of my events last year, and I got two and three this year. It's pretty special."

Reihman continues to turn heads at every level of swimming he participates in. On Friday, the first day of the event, he captured 10th place in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:45.27. The next day, he placed 15th in the 500-yard freestyle (4:54.63).

"He's been incredible," Anderson said. "I suspect he'll win states in his junior or senior year. He's incredbible."

Denny Bonner finished seventh amongst divers with 415.90 points to earn a state medal.

"We lost five seniors from our states team last year," Anderson said. "Last year, I would've never dreamed we would take third overall."