Two weeks after winning the District 10 Class 2A title in the 200-yard freestyle event, she’s now a state champion.

Beyer is the first Warren swimmer ever to win a PIAA title, and only the second Dragon in any sport to win an individual state championship. Seth Meyers won a state track and field championship in the high jump in 1991.

In winning in 1:53.06, Beyer broke the school record she set on March 5 to win the D10 title (1:53.61).

“This was my best time in my lifetime,” said Beyer.

Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Warren junior Katie Beyer became the first swimmer from Warren Area High School to earn a state championship, Friday, when she won the 200-yard free at Cumberland Valley High School.

But if you know Katie like her father and head coach, Russ Beyer, knows her, you’d know why he calls her “a killer.”

“My goal time was a little bit faster,” said Katie. “My goal time was 1:51.9. I do have a (YMCA) meet next weekend, so hopefully I get it.”

Why not? She’s already broken multiple school and pool records, won the District 10 title, and a PIAA championship.

“Next year, I want to defend my title in the 200 and possibly win the 100, and take a relay,” said Katie.

Brimming with confidence before the race — and seeded third out of 16 — didn’t guarantee her anything.

“I knew it would be a tight race,” she said.

“We’ve been trying the last couple of weeks not to change her strategy,” said Coach Beyer. “Go out fast and hold on with whatever you’ve got left.”

Coach Beyer said Katie’s first 100 yards in Friday’s 200 (52.86 seconds) at Cumberland Valley High School was nearly identical to her 100-yard freestyle time (52.79) at the D10 meet two weeks ago. That means, yes, “she was definitely going for it,” he said.

After the first half of the 200, Russ said he had to do whatever he could to help her hold on. The dad in him burst out.

“The other girl was starting to turn it on a little bit,” said Russ. “So, I thought, I have to do my part, if I have any say in this, which is just yelling, just to help her hold on.”

Russ, as coach and father, said it kind of hit him a couple of days after districts. Katie looked over at her father and said, “‘You know, I can win this,'” Russ said.

“Right there, I was just like, ‘you know what? You can.'”

It was long before that when he realized how determined she was, as a person and athlete. She battled anemia in an up-and-down fall cross country season, and had to quarantine due to COVID-19 restrictions at the start of the winter swim season.

“She swam a week and then had to wait a few weeks,” said Russ. “She was mad. That’s when she decided, ‘I have to take advantage of every opportunity I get, especially this year.’ Thats when I realized she’s not accepting anything less than this. I had to up my game (as a coach).”

In the first year the Warren girls swim team competed in Class 2A, Beyer led 15 other qualifiers from the first turn. Gwynedd Mercy Academy senior Ella Gross, an Air Force swim commit, was second in 1:53.32, .26 behind.

Beyer was seeded fifth in the 100-yard free and earned her second medal Friday with a third-place finish. Her time of 52.22 seconds broke a 26-year-old Warren record, previously held by Kristin Handkammer. Maura Fluehr, a Springfield Township senior committed to Penn State University, finished first in 50.34 seconds.

Coach Beyer said he’s most proud of the example Katie sets in her work ethic and leadership. “She’s a good teammate,” he said.

One of those teammates, freshman Hugh Harrison, who won a D10 3A championship in the 200 individual medley, will compete at states Saturday evening, seeded 16th of 16.