By Robert Niedzwiecki
The Winchester Star
Emalee Firestein swam a season-best 5:38.69 in the 500 free, beating Handley’s Sparkle Kitchin (5:53.84) by 15 seconds and coming within two seconds of her personal best.
If not for James Wood coach Mark Pennypacker, she might not have even done it — Firestein said she was telling him all night, “I do not want to do this 500.” But after talking to him, she made up her mind to push as hard as she could to get a district title, even if she wasn’t able to swim a time to her liking.