Malvern Prep, Villa Maria swimmers defeat Conestoga

Malvern >> The Malvern Prep swimming team opened its season Friday with a 102-79 win against the Conestoga boys, while Villa Maria edged the Pioneer girls, 97-89, at Malvern Prep.
“I’m very happy, overjoyed, with our win today,” said Malvern Prep head coach Jay Schiller. “Our sprinters, Zach Maher and Chris Hincks, really did well today. Matt Magness swam a great time (1:56.97) in winning the 200 IM.”
Hincks finished first in the 100 yard free (48.92), with Maher (50.89) third; and the two swimmers tied for first place in the 50 yard free (22.58).
Schiller said, “I was also happy with our times in the relays. Our team depth is impressive, and Conestoga has some good swimmers – [the Pioneers] Brian McKenrick almost broke the pool record in the 100 fly (49.89, the record is 49.71). A lot of these kids [on both teams] train together at the Upper Main Line YMCA. Our assistant coach Katherine Wolstenholme coaches a lot of these kids at UMLY.”
Malvern Prep won the 200 free relay, as Magness, Louis Franzone, Maher and Hincks posted a time of 1:29.04.
The Conestoga boys team had two individual double winners Tuesday. McKenrick won the 100 fly (49.89) and 100 back (52.23), Brendan Burns finished first in the 200 free (1:44.97) and the 500 free (4:54.13), Devin Gaul placed first in diving (208.58).
The Conestoga boys won the 200 medley relay (Brendan Burns, Aidan Hunter, Brian McKenrick, Oliver Brown) with a mark of 1:38.17; and finished first in the 400 free relay, as Arjun Rao, Brian McKenrick, Kevin Ryle and Brendan Burns posted a time of 3:17.35.
Like Schiller, Villa Maria head coach Cathy Hay was happy with the Hurricanes’ win against their next-door neighbor, which improved the team’s record to 2-0.
“Conestoga’s our neighbor, and it’s always a great meet when we face them, and almost always a close meet,” said Hay. “Kaitlyn Agger and Katelyn Chick both really did well for us. Caitlin Hamill did well on the relays, and we had a strong freshman performance from Katherine Fronczak, Katie Regan, Anna Curran and Brenda Magness, picking up the fourth- and fifth-place finishes that gave us important points.”
Agger finished second in the 100 yard fly (59.03) and first in the 500 free (5:12.12) – two events that followed in close succession. Chick won the 200 IM (2:17.03) and 100 breast (1:12.05). Hamill was part of Hurricane relay teams that finished third (200 medley relay) and fourth (200 free relay).
Also for Villa Maria, Kira Buchler won the 100 back with a clocking of 59.58. The Hurricanes won the 200 medley relay, as Hope Reynolds, Katelyn Chick, Brenna Magness and Nina Smith posted a time of 1:53.29.
The Conestoga girls had two double individual winners. Caroline Famous won the 200 free (1:55.50) and the 100 fly (57.66), Madison Ledwith won the 50 free (24.74) and 100 free (54.13), and Julia Semmer finished first in diving (195.15).
Conestoga also won the 200 free relay, as the foursome of Famous, Lauren Diehl, Caroline Apathy and Ledwith posted a time of 1:39.63; and the 400 free relay, as Ledwith, Sophia Poeta, Louise Hay and Famous clocked 3:37.87.