Katie Wingert exited the Hershey Rec Center competition pool wearing a smile as loud as her colorful suit and cap ensemble.
"This is probably the best trained and rested I've felt for our competitive meet in over a year," Wingert said.
Sporting an unmistkable fuschia swim suit and pink cap, Wingert captured first place in the girls 15-and-over 100 freestyle Saturday at the Mid-Cap Championships.
Wingert, who was competing for the Annville-Cleona Otters, dropped from a 55.20 to a 54.27 in turning back challenges from Aquatic Club of the West Shore's Shannon Ball (Cedar Cliff) and Hanover YMCA Stingrays' Ashley Griffin.
"This is my big meet," said Wingert, who does not compete in high school swimming.
"I've been really blessed to be with a club team that has older swimmers that were able to mentor me and I have really benefited from that.
"And it's also given me the opportunity to set an example for the younger swimmers on our team."
Wingert, who has been dealing with asthma problems for the past year, had a solid start and two good turns and never wavered down the final 25 yards.
"I thought I was strongest with my underwater work," Wingert added.
Wingert is coached by her aunt and uncle, Mary and Jim Gardner, so when she hit the wall to win the 100 free, Uncle Jim was there to pull her out of the water.
"Getting out of the water and having him there waiting to hug me was the best part of the race," Wingert said.
Jim Gardner added that Wingert has those intangibles that you just can't teach.
"She's always been good under the water," he said.
"But the biggest thing she has going for her is that attitude to compete. She has that determination and that's the way it's always been with her."
After witnessing her focus from the 100 free race," Gardner said he "wouldn't be surprised if she pulled off a win in the fly."
He was nearly right.
Wingert dropped from a 27.51 to a 26.67 in the 15-and-over 50 butterfly, falling to Dover Area Aquatic Club's Aniella Janosky by .02 seconds.
MORE FROM MID-CAPS:
Latshmere's Nathan Smith wins 50 freestyle in a battle of future Pittburgh Panthers
Photo gallery of the Mid-Cap Championships from PennLive's Dan Gleiter
Complete results from the 2013 Mid-Cap Swimming Championships
List of meet and pool records broken at Mid-Cap Swimming Championships
Notes and numbers from Mid-Caps