Fired-up Conestoga swimmers sweep Haverford

Haverford >> Following the Conestoga swim team’s boys-girls sweep of host Haverford High Tuesday evening, the Pioneers reflected on the adrenaline rush they feel every time they face the Fords.
“I love going against Haverford,” said Conestoga senior captain Sophia Poeta, who won the 100 free and 100 back in the Pioneer girls’ 98-86 win. “Not only are they a great team, but every year I’ve been here they’ve won the sportsmanship award in the Central League, and they deserve it.”
“The team spirit we had going against Haverford really made the difference for me today,” said Pioneer senior Nia Goodard, whose winning time in the 400 free qualified her for Districts.
Conestoga senior Tom Noone, who won the 400 free and the 200 free in a 91-87 win for the Pioneer boys, said, “It means a lot to beat Haverford – we have a history with them, and they’re a fun group of guys.”
“We get pumped up for Haverford,” said Conestoga boys’ head coach Mark Tirone. “It really gets us ready for the grind this month; and in another month we can be thinking about Districts.”
The Conestoga boys (5-1 overall, 5-0 Central League) have suffered only one loss this season, to Malvern Prep, and defeated archrival Radnor in a close decision in their third meet of the season.
Tuesday at Haverford School (the Fords’ home pool), the Pioneer boys jumped out to a 91-47 lead after the 200 free relay. Tom Noone won the 200 free with a time of 2:04.33, and in the 400 free (his favorite event), he won with a District 1 qualifying time of 4:22.31. Another Conestoga senior, Aidan McKenrick, won the 100 free with a District 1 qualifying time of 54.84.
Conestoga freshman Gary Wang won the 50 free with a District 1 consideration time of 25.85. Another Pioneer freshman, Raymond Welgosh finished second in the 200 IM with a district qualifying time of 2:16.09, behind winner David Abrahams of Haverford (2:12.73).
The Pioneer quartet of Jack Hughes, James Hughes, Spencer Rosato and Aidan McKenrick won the boys’ 200 free relay with a time of 1:42.75. In diving, Conestoga senior Robert Hutton finished first (230.45).
For the Conestoga girls, Sophia Poeta won the 100 free with a district qualifying time of 1:00.41 and finished first in the 100 back with a District 1 consideration clocking of 1:09.17. Nia Goddard’s winning time of 4:42.19 in the 100 free qualified her for Districts – last season, she didn’t qualify for Districts in this event until the Central League Championships.
Conestoga senior Alex Marlow won the 200 IM with a District 1 consideration time of 2:33.64, and junior Allison Yuan won the 100 fly (1:08.17).
In the girls 200 medley relay, the quartet of Sophia Poeta, Alex Marlow, Allison Yuan and Julie McFadden posted a winning time of 2:05.30. The Pioneer quartet of Louise Hay, Maisy Montgomery, Julie McFadden and Allison Yuan won the 200 free relay (1:54.95).
The Pioneer girls also were helped by the versatility of junior Louise Hay, who finished third in both the 100 free (1:02.68) and the 50 free (29.00). Conestoga freshman Adriana Bertolotti finished third in both the 100 breast (1:22.24) and 200 IM (2:37.97).
Haverford High swimming head coach Matt Stewart was encouraged by the girls’ close showing.
“We set Conestoga as a benchmark,” said Stewart. “This is the best we’ve hung with them in a while. We have a deep team.”
For the Haverford girls, sophomore Laura Seavey finished first in the 50 free with a clocking of 28.86. Ford junior Julia Curran placed second in the 400 free with a District 1 quialifying time of 4:44.70. Haverford senior Grace Myers won the 200 free with a District 1 qualifying time of 2:14.83, and placed second in the 100 free with a District 1 consideration time of 1:01.65. Haverford’s Elsley Hazell finished first in the 100 breast (1:18.39).
In diving, Ford junior Abby Vantrieste finished first (173.85). The quartet of Abby Krissinger, Julia Curran, Brooke Jamieson and Grace Myers finished first in the girls’ 400 free relay (4:16.84).
The Haverford boys were led by senior David Abrahams, who won the 200 IM (with a District 1 qualifying 2:12.73) and 100 breast (district qualifying time of 1:03.91). Zach Given won the 100 back with a District 1 qualifying time of 1:01.38 and placed second in the 100 free. Ford senior Jackson Graham finished first in the 100 fly with a District 1 qualifying time of 59.46.
In the boys 200 medley relay, the quartet of Zach Given, David Abrahams, Jackson Graham and Zach Scullin posted a winning (and District 1 qualifying) time of 1:51.15. In the boys’ 400 free relay, the quartet of Zach Given, Jon Meyer, Kieran Brennan and Jackson Graham finished first (3:57.40).