MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Reese Charney holds the lead for the gold medal in the Girls 100 Yard Backstroke during the PIAA District IV Class AA Swimming Championships at Williamsport High School.

Reese Charney’s career at Jersey Shore is a fantastic one any swimmer would want. She’s claimed six gold medals at districts and two silvers, took a bronze last year and has taken five fourth-place finishes home.

It’s a great haul of medals through four years of district competition, but Charney is hoping to close out her final season wearing a Bulldogs swimsuit with one more medal, this time in state competition.

Last year, Charney placed eighth in the 50 free at Bucknell and she’ll be back swimming that same event this year for the PIAA Class AA swimming and diving championships in addition to the 100 back.

Charney would love to once again reach the podium this year, but she’s just enjoying this final ride as her senior season concludes.

The PIAA Class AA swimming and diving championships begins today in Bucknell and Class AAA will take place on Friday and Saturday.

“I really am (happy to go back to states). It means a lot for me to go, but having Brooke here makes it mean so much more and you know, it wouldn’t be the same without her,” Charney said at districts on qualifying for states once more.

Charney will be heading there as well as part of a relay team. Jersey Shore’s 200 medley relay team of Kate Butzler, Reese Charney, Aaralynn Kimble and Brooke Charney won district gold in 1:54.21 to qualify for states. They’re one of two District 4 teams to be competing in that event as Lewisburg’s team of Jillian Muchler, Jillie Donner, Emma Hopkinson and Meg Mitchell took silver at districts in 1:55.96 to qualify based on time.

“I think my head space is going to be a lot better this year,” Charney said at districts. “Going in with other people and being a little bit more experienced. I have a lot more friends there from other teams as well. I have high hopes. I think it’s going to go really well.”

Charney is one of three individuals in Class AA girls swimming competition from the area to be heading to states as she’s joined by teammate Kate Butzler (100 back) and Lewisburg standout Emma Hopkinson (100 fly, 100 free).

Charney will swim the 50 free and 100 back at states.

The Bulldog is in the fourth heat of the 50 free prelims with her district-winning time of 24.85. The best time in the prelims is that of Mount Pleasant’s Kiersten O’Connor (23.30) and Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Donia Tripp (23.74), both of whom are in Charney’s prelim section.

In the 100 back, Charney is in the third of four prelims with her time of 59.25. The fastest time is that of O’Connor again, who swam a 54.62 and of Lancaster Catholic’s Addie Elliott (54.94).

Charney competes her best when competition is at its best. It’s why she won gold in both her events at districts by having standout swimmers in lanes next to her.

“It definitely helps a lot. It’s one of those things that kind of gives you an idea of where you’re at. Whenever you’re swimming, you’re going and whenever you have that person next to you pushing you, it helps you go ‘do I need to give it that last little bit?'” Charney noted.

Butzler will be in the first of four prelims in the 100 back after she swam a 1:02.47 at districts. The top time in the prelims is by O’Connor (54.62).

The Bulldogs’ 200 medley relay team was Shore’s first relay team in girls competition to win a district gold medal and qualify for states since 2019 and that foursome is hoping to make some waves at states.

Shore’s relay team is seeded in the third of four prelims and they know they’ll have tough competition to swim with in the race.