LEWISBURG — Adrian Lavorini knew he could drop time in the championship heat of the 200-yard individual medley Friday at the PIAA Class 2A championships at Bucknell University.

The Knoch senior, who will swim next year at Penn State Behrend, was fourth heading into the final leg of the IM, the freestyle.

But a strong final kick allowed him to move up one spot to third overall in a time of 1 minute, 54.78 seconds.

“The lactic acid is definitely in your legs in that last 50,” Lavorini said.

“It’s why we train in practice to be able to push through that. I just had the mentality that it was the last 50, and it was my last (200 IM) race of my senior year. I just wanted to go as hard as I could with everything that was on the line.”

Lavorini took 10th in the 200 IM at states last year and in 2024.

“Last year, I was ninth in the prelims by three one-hundredths of a second. I was that close to making the ‘A’ final. The year before, I was ninth in the prelims and missed the ‘A’ final by two tenths. I was very excited to make the ‘A’ final this morning and know I was going to come back, swim fast and win a medal. I got some good rest this afternoon so I would be ready to go.”

Lavorini will return to the pool Saturday for his second individual swim. He is the sixth seed in the 100 breast after swimming to a school-record time of 57.99 in placing third at WPIALs on Feb. 27 at Pitt.

Lavorini took 11th in the 100 breast at states last year.

“I have a good seed,” he said. “I already swam two 50 breasts in this pool, so I am ready to go. I want to go out in 27 and come back 30 low. That would be a good swim.”

Knights junior Jacob Ruediger swam the 200 IM consolation final. His time, 2:00.00, was elevated from his swim in the prelims earlier in the day, and it put him in 12th overall. The prelim of 1:57.60 was just four tenths of a second away from eighth and a spot in the championship finals.

Lavorini and Ruediger joined Brady Bleicher and Aedan Smith on the Knights’ 200 medley relay that kicked off the evening session.

The quartet swam to a 1:40.70 to take fifth in the consolation heat and 13th overall.

Knoch’s consolation time was close to the time it recorded at WPIALs (1:40.72).

“Anytime you can swim with your friends and teammates and make it back to a final at states, it is something special,” Lavorini said.

The PIAA Class 2A swimming and diving championships conclude Saturday with the 100 free, 500 free, 100 backstroke, 100 breast and 400 free relay.

Freeport senior Joy Beck and Knoch freshman Brooke Kobert also will represent the A-K Valley in the diving championship at 12:40 p.m.

The consolation and championship finals for swimming begin with the boys at 4:30 and continue with the girls at 7.