Radnor swimming teams ready for another banner season
As Radnor High School’s boys and girls swim and dive teams headed into their first week of dual meet competition, hopes were high among coaches for yet another banner season as the Red Raiders fielded 10 divers and nearly 50 swimmers.
Radnor boys swimming head coach Tom Robinson returns for his 33rd year at Radnor. With his team finishing in second place in the Central League last year and winning the Central League meet, the team of 16 boys includes strong swimmers who are familiar with District and State championship competition.
Robinson said, “Senior Greg Giannella, juniors James El-Deiry and Ethan Cai, and sophomores Patrick Cullen, Wil Cosgrove and Nick Mlodzienski are all capable of scoring points at all levels. Other swimmers to hopefully qualify for the post-season meets are seniors Ryan Tague, Derek Chettle, Jake Chanenson and Mike Horstmann, sophomore Andrew Davis and freshmen Phil Kaplan and Jack Lindgren.”
Co-captains are Greg Giannella and Ryan Tague.
Doug Nowak returns to Radnor for his sixth year as diving coach. He swam for Radnor High School and West Chester University, and continued as Radnor Aquatic Club coach.
Nowak said, “We have a nice squad of boy and girl divers who will definitely score points and help to score in the big meets.”
Radnor girls swimming head coach Billy Gordon is a new addition in 2016-17. He comes to Radnor following three years coaching Unionville High School’s girls swim team, and in addition to coaching the high school, he also coaches at Radnor Aquatic Club.
Gordon said, “Radnor girls have a strong senior class along with many talented underclass swimmers. With most of our returning group of Central League, district and state qualifiers, I expect us to fare well in the Central League and contend again for a title.”
The Radnor girls state qualifier medley relay returns intact – seniors Sasha Smolyansky and Emily Moyher and juniors Julia Cullen and Grace Wakiyama. Cullen also looks to contend in her individual events for top eight finishes at the PIAA State meet.
Also returning are five more district qualifiers – seniors Anna Duffy, Emma Dietz and Mae Yaekel; junior Samantha Lee, and sophomore Sarah Goncher – who either look to improve on their finishes from last year or receive automatic bids to the district meet. Tri-captains are seniors Anna Duffy, Julia Lunger and Sasha Smolyansky.
