Clutch fish:

It was nearly a photo finish, and this picture may be ingrained in Port Washington High School swimming history for a while.

The Pirate girls last Thursday came back to score 21 points in the final two events to top Hartford/Slinger, 82-81, at home.

It was the Pirates’ first North Shore Conference and home meet victory in more than eight years, co-coach Dani Peiffer said.

It wasn’t until late in the meet that Peiffer figured out her team had a chance.

“Nobody knew the score was that close because we were so focused on each individual event and excited by all the personal records,” she said. “I knew we were doing well, but up until the last two events we were not in a position to win. Then we crushed the last two events. It was a well-deserved win. The girls did amazing.”

In the second-last event, the 100-meter backstroke, Port scored nine points, all with personal records. Junior Ashley Bensen was second in 1 minute, 32.41 seconds. Senior Emma Schmutzler was third in 1:35.53, and sophomore Emma Klingkammer was fourth in 1:42.51.

In the 400 relay, the Pirates dominated. The team of Maddi Klein, Josie Tetzlaff, Audyn Setzer and Abbey Lotz won in 4:09.43, a personal record by five seconds.

The team of Becky Uttke, Serena Baumann, Grace Lindstroth and Leah Sheriff took second in 4:34.26.

Lotz had the most points for the Pirates with 12. She won the 200 freestyle in 2:11 and the 500 freestyle in 5:50.53, both personal records.

Senior Taylor Peiffer won the 200 individual medley in a personal record 2:58.53.

Junior Emma Huber was second in the 100 freestyle in a personal record 1:00.66.

Setzer was second in the 200 freestyle in a personal record 2:11.98.

Tetzlaff was second in the 100 butterfly in a personal record 1:04.55.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Huber, Eva Perez, Klein and Lotz was second in 1:53.95.

“The girls have been working hard in practice, and it all came together for a night of awesome performances by everyone on the team,” co-coach Peiffer said.

Port hosts Homestead at 6 p.m. Thursday and swims at Grafton at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14.