Freedom’s swim team shook off the sluggishness after a snow day to defeat Pocono Mountain West by scores of 133-31 for the Patriot girls and 105-71 for the Patriot boys.

“The biggest thing we were struggling with today was coming off no practice because we didn’t have school yesterday, so a lot of them felt tired when they were warming up,” said Freedom coach Alexa Kutch. “The biggest thing wasn’t so much the other team as it was the worry they would execute the races. A lot of them did really well. I was happy with how they performed. Pocono Mountain West did as well as they could, so it was a good team, regardless. I had some girls who usually don’t swim things come in and get some races in, so that was good too.”

The Patriot girls had a 50-8 lead at the diving event, won by Hayden Taylor with a score of 232.15.

Taylor nailed three dives that scored 7’s and 7 1/2’s: inward dive pike, inward 1 1/2 somersault tuck, and reverse dive pike.

Freedom’s Alexia Ragab, Alivia Deemer, Lily Campbell, and Laney Stewart opened the meet with a 200 medley relay win in 2:09.26.

Kaylee Buglino then won the 200 freestyle in 2:34.38, Deemer won the 200 IM in 2:33.74, Ragab won the 50 free in 28.12, Ella Lowe took first in the 100 butterfly, Campbell won the 500 free in 6:56.39, and Deemer won the 100 free.

“That was a season best,” said Deemer. “I think we’re doing really well, especially after last year, not having a lot of people. As we’re growing, I’m really proud of everyone coming together, and seeing the freshmen winning more and the sophomores winning more.”

Ragab, Paige Anderson, Stewart, and Deemer combined to win the 200 free relay in 1:54.29, Ragab was first in the 100 backstroke in 1:13.92, Stewart won the 100 breaststroke in 1:19.95, and Campbell, Lowe, Margaret Marshaleck, and Anderson ended the meet with a 400 free relay win in 4:46.82.

Freedom’s boys led 34-27 at the diving event but widened the gap to 64-38 after the Patriots had a 2-3-4 finish in the 100 free.

Griffin Kleinle was the first individual event winner for the Pates, taking first place in the 200 free in 2:19.14. Kleinle later won the 500 free in 6:32.64.

Micah Lawser sprinted to first in the 50 free in 24.47 and won the 100 fly in 1:00.80.

Cody Smith placed first in diving with a score of 176.95, and John Lowey placed second with a score of 176.95.

Smith’s best dives were the inward dive pike and the inward 1 1/2 somersault tuck, and Lowey led off with his two best dives of the day, the inward dive tuck and inward somersault tuck.

Lawser, Matthew Gould, Giovanni Camaione, and AJ Black sealed the win with a first place finish in the 400 free relay in 3:54.44.

The Patriots will travel to Easton for their next meet, scheduled for Jan. 25.