DLN ALL-AREA: Boys Swimming first team, second team & honorable mention

FIRST TEAM
JEB DARHOWER, Oxford, Jr.
A dominant force for the Hornets, Darhower qualified for districts in in many events. He had to pick two and placed third in the 200 freestyle and fifth in the 500 freestyle. Darhower went on to states and grabbed ninth place in the 200 freestyle (1:41.05) and 12th in the 500 freestyle (4:36.58).

JARED FRUHWIRTH, West Chester Henderson, Sr.
Nabbed a seventh-place finish at the state championships in the 100 breaststroke (57.65) and added a 20th in the 200 IM (1:56.07). Fruhwirth also played a big role in helping the Warriors place in the top-15 in both the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay. He added a pair of top-seven finishes at the District 1 meet.

EMILS JURCIK, Kennett, Jr.
The Blue Demon capped off a breakout junior year by notching two top-10 finishes at the PIAA Class 3A State Championship at Bucknell: a fifth in the 500 freestyle (4:30.03) and 10th in the 200 IM (1:52.86). Jurcik’s improved work ethic paid off in the District 1 meet, where he placed third (500 freestyle) and fourth (200 IM).

BRIAN McKENRICK, Conestoga, Sr.
McKenrick capped an excellent high school career with a pair of top-three individual finishes at the state meet: bronze medals in both the 100 backstroke (49.73) and the 200 IM (1:50.76). He was also a member of ’Stoga’s 200 medley relay (second place) and 400 freestyle relay (fourth). At districts, he nabbed a silver and bronze medal, and was also the Central League champion in the 100 backstroke and 200 IM. He is planning to continue swimming at the West Point Military Academy.

KEVIN RYLE, Conestoga, Jr.
A valuable relay performer, Ryle also placed 26th at the state meet in the 200 freestyle (1:44.12). In addition, he helped the Pioneers notch a fourth and a 17th place finish in the 400 freestyle and 200 freestyle relays, respectively. The junior also grabbed the Central League gold medal in the 200 freestyle and added two top-15 finishes in at the District 1 meet.

MATT MAGNESS, Malvern Prep, So.
Magness had a breakout season, winning the 200 freestyle in the Inter-Ac Championships, earning first team all-league honors and establishing the school record in the 500 freestyle. He also won silver medals at the National Catholic Championships in the 200 freestyle (1:40.57) and 500 freestyle (4:35.51). At the Eastern Interscholastic meet, Magness grabbed a seventh (500 freestyle) and ninth (200 freestyle). He was also a member of the Friars’ two freestyle relay teams that earned All-American recognition.

ALEC PIRONE, West Chester Rustin, Fr.
The area’s top diver, Pirone could wind up being one of the best in the state and beyond over the next three seasons. He was the only freshman competitor at the PIAA State Diving Championship, and finished 14th overall. He placed sixth at the District 1 meet and was undefeated during the regular season. “Alec is an extremely dedicated diver, always striving to find ways to improve his scores and perfect his dives,” said his coach J.J. Rudisill.

LIAM CALLAHAN, Unionville, Jr.
The top performer this season for the Indians, Callahan earned top-20 finishes in two events at the state meet: a 15th in the 500 freestyle (4:37.74) and a 17th in the 200 individual medley (1:55.48). He is the current school record holder in the 200 IM. “Liam is full of energy and everyone around him is infected by his enthusiasm. He is a team player and always puts his best foot forward,” said Unionvile head coach Cindy Millison.

JARED BERGAN, West Chester Henderson, Jr.
Highly productive in relays, Bergan was also excellent in the 100 butterfly, where he placed third in districts and 12th at states (50.86). In addition, he was one-fourth of the Warriors’ 200 medley relay that placed fourth in District 1 and ninth in the state, and was a member of the 200 freestyle relay that was sixth in the districts and 15th in the state.

BEN DOYLE, Downingtown East, Fr.
Established a school record in the 100 breaststroke (58.49) en route to a ninth place finish at the PIAA State Championships. It surpassed Doyle’s own mark set two weeks earlier at the district meet, where he finished third overall. He also delivered a speedy split in the breaststroke leg of the Cougars’ 200 medley relay team that grabbed 20th place in the state. “He is a talented young swimmer with a bright future,” said East assistant coach Gigi Graesser.

TOM POWELL, Bishop Shanahan, Sr.
At the PIAA Class 2A State Championships Powell took fifth place in the 500 freestyle (4:41.57) and 12th at the 200 freestyle (1:44.94). He also grabbed a pair of top-3 finishes at districts in the 400 freestyle (second) and 200 freestyle (third) to help lead the Eagles to place third as a team. “Tom Powell is a first-caliber swimmer,” said Shanahan head coach Ray Lease.

SECOND TEAM
LIAM PITT, West Chester Henderson, Sr.
JAMES KIRKBY, West Chester East, Sr.
JOHN CONNORS, Malvern Prep, Jr.
TOM POWELL, Bishop Shanahan, Sr.
ZACH MAHER, Malvern Prep, Sr.
CRUZ BUITRON, Westtown School, So.
MICHAEL FAZIO, Oxford, So.
BRYCE NIKA, Coatesville, Sr.
STEVEN FULLER, West Chester Henderson, Sr.
THOMAS NOONE, Conestoga, So.
MATTHEW MAGORRY, Avon Grove, Sr.

Honorable Mention
Avon Grove: Corey Hausler; Justin Hauser; Kyle Holman, Sr.; Aaron Tupper, So.
Coatesville: Cam Boldaz, Jr.; Matt Oleykowski, Sr.; Ethan Moore, Fr.
Conestoga: Oliver Brown, Jr.; Thomas Noone, So.; Owen Neuman, Jr.
Downingtown East: Vincent Ye, So.; Dylan Lisnow, Jr.; Mitchell LaBenski, Sr.
Great Valley: Tommy Boerger, Fr.
Malvern Prep: Dan Waterland, Jr.; Lou Franzone, So.; Chris Hinks, Jr.; Connor Cary, So.
Oxford: Mikael Axelsson, Sr.
West Chester East: A.J. Avagliano; J.P. Perucki, Emil Vasko;
West Chester Henderson: Brennan Smith, Sr.;
West Chester Rustin: Andrew Brown, So.; Nick Pirone, So.