North Penn sweeps Souderton on Senior Knight
TOWAMENCIN >> To celebrate Senior Night, the North Penn seniors — all 23 of them — got to choose an event to swim on Tuesday evening against Souderton Area.
They also made their own memories.
“Even though I’ve only been swimming for five years, I feel like I’ve been doing this forever,” said senior breaststroker Nisha Kantesaria. “It completely changed my life.
“It was bitter-sweet because I’m excited to get to the end but I’m also very sad that I’m leaving this team. It helped shape me.”
North Penn combined their efforts for a 98-80 win on the girls side and a 101-77 victory in the boys meet as both Knights squads finished a perfect 6-0 in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.
“I’m excited to swim my best times and give everything that I have left,” Kantesaria said as the postseason draws closer.
It was an overwhelming performance by the Knights, as the NP girls won the first nine events and the boys won the first eight swim events to pull away from a close rival.
“Of all the teams that come in here, I would say North Penn and Souderton are the closest,” Knights coach Jeff Faikish said. “As far as kids that are on the team, there are some kids that swim for Souderton that I coach during the summer.
“There are relationships. It’s a unique and interesting dynamic and it presents itself in such a wonderful way.”
Sean Faikish won a pair of individual events (50 free and 100 fly) for the boys and Kaelan Daly did the same on the girls side (200 free and 100 fly) to help the Knights stay unbeaten.
Said Knights senior Micah Detweiler, fourth in the 200 IM: “Souderton’s a good team and has been a rival for a really long time. You get hyped up and prepared for it.”
Kyle Creachen dove to a victory for the Big Red boys, scoring a 240.40. Frankie Ferlick had a pair of second places (100/50 free) for the Souderton girls.
“We were hoping for some faster times. I think they swam a little tired today – tough practice yesterday and this morning,” Indians coach Lou Williams said. “So times were not super great for us but we kind of expected that.
“It’s always tough to go up against (North Penn) – they’re really awesome, so deep and fast. But we’re in a great spot going into the end of the year.”
Friends and family packed the stands at The Rick Carroll Natatorium Tuesday night, providing the seniors a tremendous sendoff in their final home meet.
“Great group of kids,” Faikish said.
Boys Swimming
North Penn 101, Souderton Area 77
200 medley relay: North Penn (Sean Faikish, Nick Clark, Evan Mancini, Ryan Faikish), 1:37.07
200 free: Nick Clark (NP) 1:43.84
200 IM: Aidan Faikish (NP) 2:01.24
50 free: Sean Faikish (NP) 21.44
Diving: Kyle Creachen (S) 240.40
100 butterfly: Sean Faikish (NP) 52.89
100 free: Ryan Faikish (NP) 47.41
500 free: Ryan Woolaver (NP) 4:56.58
200 free relay: North Penn (Ryan Faikish, Aidan Faikish, Sean Faikish, Evan Mancini), 1:27.35
(North Penn swam the remaining events as exhibitions)
100 back: Brien Yaglenski (S) 58.83
100 breast: William Leyland (S) 1:05.58
400 free relay: Souderton (Drew Stephens, Austin Graham, Erik Moyer, Robbie Ferlick), 3:28.44
Girls Swimming
North Penn 98, Souderton Area 80
200 medley relay: North Penn (Charlotte Thamm, Maddie Fritz, Caroline Dunigan, Nicole Chiappa), 1:49.70
200 free: Kaelan Daly (NP) 1:59.12
200 IM: Charlotte Thamm (NP) 2:11.65
50 free: Caroline Dunigan (NP) 24.35
Diving: Meghan Wenzel (NP) 293.15
100 butterfly: Kaelan Daly (NP) 1:00.14
100 free: Maddie Fritz (NP) 54.56
500 free: Anna Evans (NP) 5:33.80
200 free relay: North Penn (Nicole Chiappa, Olivia Toussaint, Kaelan Daly, Caroline Dunigan), 1:40.52
(North Penn swam the remaining events as exhibitions)
100 back: Ellie Hiestand (S) 1:00.53
100 breast: Kayla Pike (S) 1:11.73
400 free relay: Souderton Area (Abby Burns, Ellie Hiestand, Alexis Krebs, Frankie Ferlick), 3:50.51
