There was little question that Hershey would win the PIAA Class AAA girls' swimming team title after the Trojans' dominant performance on Wednesday.
The only issue was how Hershey would close out their season, with victories, or with records.
The Trojans won four of the five events during Thursday's session, setting two PIAA records along the way, to win the team title with 279 team points.
Meaghan Raab closes out her career
Hershey won 400-yard freestyle relay gold medal with a state-record 3:21.34 in the final race of the night. So, when Meaghan Raab touched the wall for that final time, the last instant of her career was her finishing off a record performance.
It was an appropriate ending for Raab, a Georgia recruit, who set four state records in about 26 hours. Even she did not know how to describe the Trojans' dominance over the two days.
"You work all year for it, then in two days, it's over," Raab said.
Kaley Buchanan, Vivian Tafuto and Madelyn Veith swam the first three legs of the 400 freestyle relay and had the Trojans right on record pace before Raab hit the water.
"I think it was really important [to finish with a record]," Raab said. "It shows how far this team has come, and how far I've come, in our training."
Raab also set the PIAA record in the 100 backstroke with a 53.08. On Wednesday, she set a new mark in the 200 IM and was part of the 200 medley relay record.
After her last race, Raab was embraced not just by her teammates but by several Wilson swimmers, including Alexandra Rockett. Rockett was fourth in the 100 backstroke with a 56.20.
"I think the bond is strong from us being in the same district and being in so many of the same meets," Raab said of Wilson. "And Alexandra and I have been friends for a long time, since going to the Olympic Trials."
Madelyn Veith goes 4-for-4
Another Hershey senior, Veith, won four gold medals as well. On Thursday, along with the 400 freestyle relay, she won the 100 freestyle with a 50.45.
She won by just .01 seconds over Siena Salvaggio of Parkland. It was the Trojans' second win by .01 seconds, after taking the 200 medley relay by that margin in Wednesday's opening event.
"I really honestly didn't expect it, because the 100 freestyle has always been harder for me," Veith said.
Veith won the 50 freestyle and was part of the 200 freestyle relay team on Wednesday as well.
Vivian Tafuto takes breaststroke
Tafuto added another gold to Hershey's collection by taking the 100 breaststroke with a 1:01.81. She had a split of 29.20 after 50 yards and won comfortably.
"I was just really nervous and wanted to have a good start," Tafuto said. "I just hoped I wouldn't false start. That was my biggest fear."
After her Hershey teammates had won six of the first nine events in the meet, Tafuto felt encouragement and pressure to continue the Trojans' roll.
"There is a little bit of both," Tafuto said. "I went into that race feeling confident."
Sabrina Mortell completes Mid-Penn sweep
In the 500 freestyle, Sabrina Mortell of Cumberland Valley paced herself early and came on strong in the last 250 yards to win the gold medal with a 4:52.55.
Mortell was second or third for the first 200 yards. Then she moved past the competition and stayed there the rest of the way.
Kathryn Painter of Norwin made a charge with 75 yards to go, but Mortell maintained a lead of at least one length in the last lap.
"I was thinking to myself that I just want to finish it," Mortell said.
The victory was even more important to Mortell after missing out on the championship final in the 200 freestyle on Wednesday.
"I wanted to redeem myself from last night," Mortell said. "I wanted to go out having fun and not feeling uptight."
Around the pool
Buchanan added one more medal to Hershey's total with a fifth-place 51.55 in the 100 freestyle.
Northeastern's Niki Price was fourth in the 100 freestyle with a 50.79.
Wilson had two medal winners. In addition to Rockett in the 100 backstroke, Amber Cortazzo of Wilson was seventh in the 500 freestyle with a 5:01.39.
In the 100 backstroke, Dallastown's Kacey Oberlander was third with a 55.75, and Cocalico's Samantha Marino was eighth with a 57.23.
Consolation results
District 3 entries
(Place listed is overall. Ninth place is the first finisher in the consolation, 16th place is the eighth finisher in the consolation)
100 freestyle
13. Alyssa Bixler, Dallastown, 51.98.
100 breststroke
13. Maddy Popalis, Hempfield, 1:05.93.
400 freestyle relay
12. Wilson (Alexandra Rockett, Kelley Redcay, Lexie Gartner, Amber Cortazzo), 3:34.09.