Swimming: Undefeated West Chester Henderson’s depth sinks Downingtown East

Lionville >> Minutes after the West Chester Henderson boys’ and girls’ swimming teams (each 6-0) swept host Downingtown East by more than 20 points apiece Friday, Warrior head coach Jeff Bott reflected on his team’s win in front of a spirited crowd at Lionvile Community YMCA.
“We are fortunate to have a lot of depth,” said Bott after wins by the Henderson boys (99-78) and girls (107-77). “This was not an easy meet for us by any stretch of the imagination. There were a lot of close events that could have gone either way today. We had a lot of good swims today – this was a real team win – [but] we still have a long way to go yet. We’re a work in progress.”
The Henderson boys pulled out to a solid early lead (40-22 before the diving event) and continued to maintain a solid lead the rest of the way. The Warriors’ Liam Pitt won two individual events (50 free, 22.26; 100 free, 49.34).
Other first-place Warrior boys were Jared Fruhwirth (200 IM, 2:04.55); Jared Bergan (100 fly, 52.89); Fernando Gomez-Fischer (500 free, 5:06.86); and the medley relay team of Pitt, Fruhwirth, Jared Bergan and Steve Fuller (1:40.31). In diving, Henderson went 1-2-3 (Will Merrill 209.50, Matt Hogan 225.65, Brice McElheny 223.95).
Henderson boys who finished second included Brennan Smith (200 free), Will Groves (500 free), Bergan (100 back) and the 200 free relay team of Smith, Gomez-Fischer, Fuller and Fruhwirth.
While the Henderson boys had a 40-22 advantage before the diving event, the Warrior girls had a smaller lead of 34-28 at the same stage, and gradually pulled away for its 107-77 victory. First-place Warriors included Olivia Cotellesse (50 free, 25.93), Madi Bailey (diving, 192.65), Rachel Hazard (100 free, 54.91), Courtney Marlin (500 free, 5:18.89); Grace Campbell (100 back, 1:03.29); Marisa Krauss (100 breast, 1:11.64); and the 200 free relay team of Meghan Gamble, Marlin, Cotellesse and Hazard (1:42.75).
The Henderson girls also had a number of second-place finishers, including Courtney Marlin (200 free), Erika Marlin (200IM and 100 breast), Cotellesse (100 fly), Maya Byrne (100 free), Campbell (500 free) and the 200 medley relay team of Campbell, Erika Martin, Hazard and Cotellesse.
Friday’s meet was Downingtown East’s last home meet of the season, and just after the diving event, the Cougars honored their 10 seniors (boys and girls) with a senior recognition ceremony, in which each senior was introduced, along with their parents. The seniors honored (in order) were Jessica Cestare, Tara Collier, Emily Dickson, Evan Ferry, Wilson Haefner, Mitchell LaBenski, Breanne McDermott, Connor McIlroy, Oliver Santangelo and Megan Yahr.
“Our seniors were really happy today, and some of them swam their best times of the season,” said Downingtown East girls’ head coach Janet Bright.
Some of the senior girls who swam their best times for Downingtown East (3-5) Friday included McDermott (57.66 in 100 free, third place); Collier (26.38 in 50 free, second place); and Dickson (5:52.95 in 500 free, third place).
Seniors Collier and McDermott were part of Downingtown East’s victorious 200 medley relay team, and seniors Cestare, Yahr and Dickson were part of a solid effort by the 200 free relay team (2:03.36).
Two Cougar sophomores made Districts with their first-place times Friday – Caroline Maki (2:12.65 in 200IM) and Heather McCausland (1:57.10 in 200 free). McCausland also finished first in the 100 fly (1:01.44); and Maki and McCausland were part of D-East’s winning 200 medley relay squad.
For the Downingtown East boys (5-2), several seniors sparkled, notably co-captains McIlroy (won 100 back, 56.48) and LaBrenski (was part of 200 free relay team that finished first).
Other notable Cougar boys included freshman Ben Doyle (won 100 breast with a clocking of 1:02.59, and was part of first-place 200 free relay team); Vincent Ye (first in 200 free – 1:46.58, and second in 100 fly – 53.36); and Dylan Lisnow (second in 100 breast, 1:04.22).
D-town East boys’ assistant coach Gigi Graesser noted, “Our swimmers did a good job today; our boys stepped up [against a tough foe].”

Boys – West Chester Henderson 99, Downingtown East 78
200 medley relay – 1. West Chester Henderson (Pitt, Fruhwirth, Bergan, Fuller) 1:40.31; 200 freestyle – Yee (DE) 1:46.58, 2. Smith (WCH), 3. Gomez-Fischer (WCH); 200 IM – 1. Fruhwirth (WCH) 2:04.55, 2. LaBenski (DE), 3. McIntyre (WCH); 50 freestyle — 1. Pitt (WCH) 22.26, 2. Lisnow (DE), 3. Fuller (WCH); Diving – 1. Merrill (WCH) 205.65; 100 butterfly – 1. Bergan (WCH) 52.89, 2. Ye (DE), 3. Fuller (WCH); 100 freestyle – 1. Pitt (WCH) 49.34, 2. LaBenski (DE), 3. Smith (WCH); 500 freestyle – 1. Gomez-Fischer (WCH) 5:06.86, 2. Groves (WCH), 3. MacCausland (DE); 200 freestyle relay – 1. Downingtown East (LaBenski, Doyle, Ye, Lisnow) 1:32.03; 100 backstroke – 1. McIlroy (DE) 56.48, 2. Bergan (WCH), 3. Groves (WCH); 100 breaststroke – 1. Doyle (DE) 1:02.59, 2. Lisnow (DE), 3. Esarapu (DE); 400 freestyle relay – 1. Downingtown East (Ye, MacCausland, Lorge, McIlroy) 3:39.66).

Girls – West Chester Henderson 107, Downingtown East 77
200 medley relay – 1. Downingtown East (MacCausland, Maki, Collier, McDermott) 1:51.95; 200 freestyle – MacCausland (DE) 1:57.10, 2. C. Marlin (WCH), 3. Byrne (WCH); 200 IM – 1. Maki (DE) 2:12.65, 2. E. Marlin (WCH), 3. Li (WCH); 50 freestyle — 1. Cotellesse (WCH) 25.93, 2. Collier (DE), 3. Gamble (WCH); Diving – 1. Bailey (WCH) 192.65; 100 butterfly – 1. MacCausland (DE) 1:01.44, 2. Cotellesse (WCH), 3. Lambe (DE); 100 freestyle – 1. Hazard (WCH) 54.91, 2. Byrne (WCH), 3. McDermott (DE); 500 freestyle – 1. C. Marlin (WCH) 5:18.89, 2. Campbell (WCH), 3. Dickson (DE); 200 freestyle relay – 1. West Chester Henderson (Gamble, C. Marlin, Contellesse, Hazard) 1:42.75; 100 backstroke – 1. Campbell (WCH) 1:03.29, 2. Maki (DE), 3. Hazard (WCH); 100 breaststroke – 1. Krauss (WCH) 1:11.64, 2. E. Marlin (WCH), 3. Myers (DE); 400 freestyle relay – 1. Downingtown East (Haefner, Koloseike, Lambe, Ellison) 4:06.27).