Conestoga swimmers remain undefeated in Central League
Both Conestoga boys and girls swim teams continue undefeated in Central League match-ups as of Monday Feb. 1.
In their 101-85 edge over Ridley Jan. 19, the girls had to rely on their depth to grab the win. Janashree Jonnalagadda, Katherine Abele, and Caleigh Sturgeon swept the 100 butterfly, Bharathi Kolluru and Carolyn Riggs went 1-2 in the 500 freestyle, and Lauren Diehl won the 50 freestyle.
Conestoga’s 2-3-4 finishes in the 200 freestyle by Riggs, Jane Frascella, and Mia Borger, and in the 100 backstroke by Caroline Apathy, Julie McFadden, and Emily Booz, showed the importance of the Pioneers’ depth, while diver Leah Bernstein helped build up the lead with a second place finish.
The second place 200 medley relay team of Sophia Poeta, Kiley McCue, Apathy, and Madison Ledwith aided in the point count, and additional scores were brought in via a 2-3 finish in the 200 free relay by quads Linda Ashmead, Ledwith, Jonnalagadda, and Emily Newhall, and Borger, Diehl, Emma Wydeven and Courtney Sellig.
Going into the last event with only a six-point advantage, the Stoga girls had to place at least second to secure the lead. The 400 free relay victors Linda Ashmead, Diehl, Jonnalagadda, and Booz were followed into the wall by the second place quad of Wydeven, Sellig, Poeta, and McCue, sealing the win for Conestoga.
The Conestoga boys swam past Ridley 97-83, starting with Brendan Burns, Brian McKenrick, Kevin Ryle, and Kevin Jay teaming up to win the 200 medley relay. Individual victories included Griffin Hamilton in the 200 freestyle, Ryle – 50 freestyle, Jay – 100 butterfly, and Leon Hagenlocher – 100 backstroke.
Burns and Oliver Brown placed 1-2 in the 100 freestyle, while Owen Neuman, Arjun Rao, and Evan Zhou swept the 500 freestyle, and McKenrick and Brown touched 1-2 in the 100 breaststroke.
Conestoga’s first place 200 free relay team of Aidan Hunter, Louis Conroy, Ryan Look, and David Nice started a sweep, followed by second place Bohan Song, Nathan Shreve, Hamilton, and Neil Jakhete, with third place going to Neuman, Aidan McKenrick, Connor Kanto, and Ethan Sampson.
The huge snowfall of Jan. 23 delayed the Stoga meet against Garnet Valley, but when they finally got to face each other Jan. 27, Pioneer girls Poeta, Booz, Apathy, and Ledwith showed they were ready by opening the meet with a win in a 200 medley relay.
Diehl, Poeta, and Wydeven swept the 50 free, and Ledwith won the 400 free. A 1-2 finish in the 200 freestyle relay allowed Conestoga to swim exhibition for the last two events, and gave them a 97-84 victory.
The Conestoga boys also opened strong in the 200 medley relay, with Brown, Brian McKenrick, Ryle and Aidan McKenrick just out-touching the second place quad of Neuman, Jay, Burns, and Mason Sellig. In the 200 free relay, the second place finishers Thomas Noone, Nice, Rao, and Jay followed Hamilton, Jakhete, Zhou, and Burns into the wall.
Individual wins were posted by Brian McKenrick – 200 free and 100 backstroke, Jay – 200 IM, Conroy – 50 free, Hamilton – 100 butterfly, Neuman – 100 free, Ryle – 400 free, and Burns – 100 breaststroke, giving Stoga the 96-76 win over Garnet Valley.
