Shanahan sweeps past Oxford in early Ches-Mont tuneup
LOWER OXFORD >> The team outcome was never in doubt, but Bishop Shanahan head swim coach Ray Lease didn’t want to simply overwhelm host Oxford during Ches-Mont action on Wednesday evening. So even though he had a clear edge in overall numbers, Lease mixed his lineup a bit in order to challenge his boys and girls as they notched season opening dual meet wins against the undermanned Hornets.
[CLICK HERE FOR A SLIDESHOW FROM WEDNESDAY’S MEET]
“I don’t like to just overwhelm an opponent, so I tried to mix our kids up and put them into different events,” Lease explained.
“This is one of the rare times where we can go quantity over quality,” added Shanahan senior Tom Powell. “Against other teams like Downingtown West, we need to have quality.”
The Eagles captured the boys’ competition, 123-43, at Lincoln University by sweeping all three relay events, and outpointing Oxford with depth. On the girls’ side, Shanahan prevailed, 102-79, thanks to eight first place finishes in a dozen events.
“We’ve only been in the water two and a half weeks, so I was impressed with how the kids looked,” Lease said.
“We had a couple first-time winners like Angela King (diving) and Maeve Burke (50 freestyle), so that was nice to see.”
For the Hornets and first-year head coach Chrissy Reinard, it was the start of a season that is going to be a struggle when it comes to dual meet results. Oxford has depth issues, but the Hornets also have some star power individually.
“We simply don’t have the numbers,” Reinard said. “We only have seven boys, so we can only get one relay in.
“Being my first year, I’m learning who does what and right now I’m just trying to fill as many people in lanes as possible in as many events just to try to get the points.”
As case in point is Morgan Curl, who cruised to victories in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly. The senior — who has signed to study and swim at the University of Pennsylvania starting next fall — grabbed two of Oxford’s four wins, with junior Maddie Distenfeld notching the others in the 100 freestyle and 100 breastroke.
“Compared to other teams, we are really small,” Curl acknowledged. “Not having the numbers can be frustrating.
“But we have a new coach and it feels like more of a team. Things are also more organized, so I think we have a good future.”
For Shanahan, sophomore Mia Ceribelli accounted for four firsts by winning the 200 IM and 500 freestyle, and participating in a couple relay victories. Chloee McKinnley also registered a first in the 100 backstroke.
“My 500 free time decreased from last year, so I am happy with it. My goal is to cut my times in every meet and I want to make it to districts,” Ceribelli said.
“Mia has a very bright future,” Lease added. “Last season, she improved her time in the backstroke by four full seconds.”
In the boys’ competition, Powell grabbed a win in the 100 freestyle, took second in the 200 IM, and was a member of two winning relay teams.
“This is our first meet, so it was kind of testing the waters,” Powell said. “I know I’m starting out faster than last season, so hopefully that’s a good sign.”
Ryan Fasco (50 freestyle), Jack Fidanza (100 backstroke) and Ryan Powell (100 breastroke) also notched firsts for the Eagles, and freshman diver Michael Robinson earned Shanahan some points for the first time ever.
“Having divers really helps,” Lease said. “Last year was the first time we had girls in diving and this year is the first time we’ve had a boy diver. We lost some meets over the years having to give away those points in diving.”
Junior Jeb Darhower led the way for Oxford with triumphs in the 200 and 500 freestyle, which are events he was a district qualifier a season ago. The Hornets also had another multiple winner in Michael Fazio (200 IM and 100 butterfly).
“I am just going as hard as I can and try to win for my team,” Darhower said.
“We gained two more guys for this season, but we only have seven total. It’s tough because every guy has to take on a certain event, and sometimes you have to do an event you are not used to. But I’m happy to do it.”
It’s worth noting that Bishop Shanahan has 19 boys on its team. It also didn’t help Oxford’s cause that one of its top performers, Mike Axelsson, missed the meet on Wednesday.
“We are asking our more experienced swimmers to fill into areas that we lack swimmers, but it may not be their best events,” Reinard pointed out.
Boys
Bishop Shanahan 123, Oxford 43
200 IM relay – 1. Bishop Shanahan (Fidanza, Trudel, Medve, Vasko) 2:08.15; 200 freestyle – Darhower (O) 1:46.22, 2. Hill (BS), 3. Fasco (BS); 200 IM – 1. Fazio (O) 2:01.26, 2. Powell (BS), 3. Kern (BS); 50 freestyle — 1. Fasco (BS) 26.07, 2. Vasko (BS), 3. Applegate (O); Diving – 1. Robinson (BS) 150.35; 100 breastroke – 1. Powell (BS) 1:18.41, 2. Medve (BS), 3. Rogers (O); 400 freestyle relay – 1. Bishop Shanahan (Kern, Fasco, Hill, Powell) 3:52.76); 100 butterfly – 1. Fazio (O) 58.77, 2. Kern (BS), 3. Blanchard (BS); 100 freesyle – 1. Powell (BS) 50.01, 2. Hill (BS), 3. Trudel (BS); 500 freestyle – 1. Darhower (O) 4:48.76, 2. Fidanza (BS), 3. Powell (BS); 200 freestyle relay – 1. Bishop Shanahan (Kern, Wilson, Fasco, Powell) 1:36.56; 100 backstroke – 1. Fidanza (BS) 1:01.31, 2. Fraser (BS), 3. Carlin (BS).
Girls
Bishop Shanahan 102, Oxford 79
200 IM relay – 1. Bishop Shanahan (Ceribelli, Marsh, Zwaan, Malinchak) 2:14.65; 200 freestyle – 1. Curl (O) 2:00.87, 2. Wilson (BS), 3. Zwaan (BS); 200 IM – 1. Ceribelli (BS) 2:37.76, 2. Harsh (O), 3. Zwaan (BS); 50 freestyle – 1. Burke (BS) 29.93, 2. Shafer (O), 3. Reph (O); Diving – 1. King (BS) 164.9, 2. Wilson (BS), 3. Fidanza (BS); 1. 100 butterfly – 1. Curl (O) 59.46, 2. Marsh (BS), 3. Harsh (O); 100 breaststroke – 1. Distenfeld (O) 1:31.09, 2. Stack (BS), 3. Nowland (O); 400 freestyle relay – 1. Bishop Shanahan (Wilson, Ceribelli, Marsh, Malinshak) 4:18.65; 100 freestyle – 1. Distenfeld (O) 1:04.06; 2. Zwaan (BS), 3. Stack (BS); 500 freestyle – 1. Ceribelli (BS) 6:13.47, 2. McKinney (BS), 3. Reph (O); 200 freestyle relay – 1. Bishop Shanahan (Fidandza, Zwaan, Marsh, Wilson) 1:56.60; 100 backstroke – 1. McKinney (BS) 1:26.01, 2. Shafer (O), 3. Burke (BS).
