Villa Maria reigns over District 1 2A swimming for 18th straight year

By Karen Sangillo
PHILADELPHIA >> They made it 18 in a row, and they made it look pretty easy.
The Villa Maria swim team posted a score of 371 points to easily outdistance runner up Nazareth Academy and capture its 18th consecutive District 1 Class 2A girls’ team title, which concluded Friday at La Salle University’s Kirk Pool.
Only event winners in swimming receive automatic berths at the PIAA championships, slated for March 11-14 at Bucknell University. Other swimmers may receive at-large berths based on statewide time comparisons.
Madeline Ladd and Megan Cassidy went 1-2 for the Hurricanes in the 100 breaststroke. Ladd posted a time of 1:00.17 and Cassidy went 1:01.23. Katie Regan was second in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.42).
Villa Maria’s Caitlyn Hamill took fourth in the 500 freestyle (5:21.73) and Hannah King was fifth in the 100 freestyle (53.61).
“I think I swam really well,” said Hamill, a senior captain who will swim at West Chester next season. “I wasn’t tapered at all. For our team, we do feel the pressure to keep winning the title. We came in kind of pumped because we scored 45 points in diving, so we were confident.
“But we still have to swim our best time and keep the places we’re seeded in to maintain that. I think this team is honestly my favorite team in the four years I’ve been here. We worked really hard.
“I’m very excited for states now.”
Hamill, Maddie George, Ladd and Regan teamed up to finish sixth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:44,75).
“Our medley relay kicked things off with a win on Thursday and that was awesome,” said Regan, a senior captain. “I was able to drop time in both my IM and my breaststroke so I was happy with that.
“I feel really good about states and I can’t wait. This year I really feel that my experience will help, so I hope I can get in to swim in one of my individual events. “I’m really excited for the medley relay. I’m really looking forward to that. I swam in the medley relay at states last year and it was awesome.”
In girls’ Class 3A, Izzy Paoletti of Avon Grove capped off the meet with a victory in the 500 freestyle (4:53.42). The triumph comes after her win in the 200 individual medley on Thursday. The two victories combined to earn her the B.J. Howat Outstanding Swimmer award.
In addition to her gold medal for the 500, Paoletti also received the Lisa Forlini Memorial award, presented by the Bucks County Chapter of Swim Officials, for posting the meet’s fastest time in the 500 freestyle.
Sydney McCracken was the district titlist in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.32) for Kennett.
Conestoga’s Caroline Famous took second in the 100 backstroke (55,33) while teammate Lily Robinson was fifth in the 100 freestyle (51.98). The Pioneers were fourth in team scoring with 138 points. North Penn won the team title (299).
Alexa Fulton of Downingtown East took third in the 100 freestyle (51.53). The Cougars finished sixth in team scoring (117). Victoria Maki, Fulton, Grace Noble and Grace Bousom finished fifth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:31.08).
West Chester Henderson’s Krista Martin was fourth in the 100 backstroke (56.26). She then anchored the 400 freestyle relay for Katie Simpson, Shannon Gamble and Maya Byrne. The foursome took home the bronze medal (3:29.97). Henderson was third in team scoring (156).
Tori Howard of Downingtown West finished in eighth place in the 100 backstroke (56.84).
In the boys Class 3A competition, DJ Fechtman of Downingtown East took the bronze in the 100 backstroke (50.66).
“I’m really happy with how I swam,” Fechtman said. “It’s close to my best time and I wasn’t really rested or tapered. I feel good about getting to states with that time. It’s faster than I went last year and I made it out last year so that gives me a lot of confidence.
“I had a little trouble with my start yesterday, it was a little slippery. I worked on it today and that really helped. It was really a competitive race so that’s good preparation for states.”
Ben Doyle was fourth in the 100 breaststroke (57.73) for the Cougars, who finished fifth in team scoring with 144 points. North Penn won the team competition (312).
Kennett’s Liam Simmons was seventh in the 100 backstroke (52.38).
Raymond Welgosh of Conestoga was eighth in the 500 freestyle (4:42.60) while fellow Pioneer Gary Wang took eighth in the 100 breaststroke (58.27).
Matthew Pawlow, Welgosh, Luke Nagel and Stephen Graver combined to take sixth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:13.34).
Conestoga finished third in team scoring (152).

Girls swimming
District One championships
Class 2A
Team scores
1, Villa Maria, 371 points; 2. Nazareth Academy, 327; 3. Springfield (M), 300; 4. Gwynedd Mercy, 258; 5. Upper Perkiomen, 186; 6. Villa Joseph Marie, 169’ 7. Lower Moreland, 164; 8. Merion Mercy, 121; 9. Pottsgrove, 75; 10. Upper Moreland, 63.
Event results
100-yard freestyle: 1. Maura Fluehr, Springfield (M), 51.47; 2. Noel Fresca, Upper Perkiomen, 51.69; 3. Kayla Lichtner, Nazareth Academy, 51.88; 4. AnnaScott McKearney, Delaware County Christian, 53.31; 5. Hannah King, Villa Maria, 53.61; 6. Violet Lorei, Merion Mercy, 55.38; 7. Paris Thompson, Springfield (M), 56.06; 8. Callie Walker, Nazareth Academy, 56.38;
500 freestyle: 1. Trinity Schmidt, Springfield (M), 5:08.28; 2. Sam Becker, Lower Moreland, 5:19.63; 3. Quincey Kilbride, Nazareth Academy, 5:20.47; 4. Caitlin Hamill, Villa Maria, 5:21.73; 5. Megan Smith, Nazareth Academy, 5:22.77; 6. Caitlyn Szumski, Nazareth Academy, 5:23.14; 7. Arianna Petrovia, Nazareth Academy, 5:27.96; 8. Megan Iannacone, Villa Joseph Marie, 5:29.48;
100 backstroke: 1. Madeline Ladd, Villa Maria, 1:00.17; 2. Megan Cassidy, Villa Maria, 1:01.23; 3. Darragh Martin, Upper Perkiomen, 1:01.83; 4. Nicole Sasso, Gwynedd Mercy, 1:02.40; 5. Callie Walker, Nazareth Academy, 1:02.85; 6. Elizabeth Unger, Nazareth Academy, 1:04.15; 7. Rebecca Levy, Springfield (M), 1:04.17; 8. Grace Dudek, Lower Moreland, 1:05.00;
100 breaststroke: 1. Sabina Hartman, Villa Joseph Marie, 1:04.80; 2. Katie Regan, Villa Maria, 1:08.42; 3. Aileen Murray, Gwynedd Mercy, 1:09.62; 4. Molly Krock, Pottsgrove, 1:10.14; 5. Avery McKeaney, Delarware County Christian, 1:12.73; 6. Samantha Landis, Nazareth Academy, 1:12.96; 7. Alexis Collision, Villa Maria, 1:14.39; 8. Amy Pischke, Springfield (M), 1:14.52;
400 freestyle relay: 1. Gwynedd Mercy (Brynn Romberger, Nicole Sasso, Aileen Murray, Ella Gross), 3:38.10; 2. Nazareth Academy, 3:40.45; 3. Springfield (M), 3:41.38; 4. Upper Perkiomen, 3:43.21; 5. Villa Joseph Marie, 3:44.64; 6. Villa Maria, 3:44.75; 7. Lower Moreland, 3:49.11; 8. Merion Mercy, 3:57.33.

Class 3A
Team scores
1. North Penn, 299 points; 2. Upper Dublin, 257; 3. West Chester Henderson, 156; 4. Conestoga, 138; 5. Owen J. Roberts, 126; 6. Downingtown East, 117; 7. Hatboro-Horsham, 98; 8. Mount St. Joseph, 91; 9. Radnor, 87.5; 10. Council Rock North, 86.5.
Event results
100-yard freestyle: 1. Caroline Dunigan, North Penn, 50.70; 2. Meghan DiMartile, Upper Dublin, 51.43; 3. Alexa Fulton, Downingtown East, 51.53; 4. Mikayla Niness, Owen J. Roberts, 51.62; 5. Lily Robinson, Conestoga, 51.98; 6. Vivi Vergara, Hatboro-Horsham, 52.04; 7. Nicole Chiappa, North Penn, 52.21; 8. Molly Braun, Upper Dublin, 52.39;
500 freestyle: 1. Izzy Paoletti, Avon Grove, 4:53.42; 2. Sydney Bergstrom, Strath Haven, 4:55,31; 3. Elle Braun, Upper Dublin, 4:55.99; 4. MaryKate Leonard, Mount St. Joseph, 4:57.58; 5. Gabrielle McKee, Boyertown, 4:57.60; 6. Katya Eruslanova, Haverford, 5:02.79; 7. Maggie Mikalic, Mount St. Joseph, 5:03.86; 8. Keeley Durkin, Sun Valley, 5:04.25;
100 backstroke: 1. Megan DiMartile, Upper Dublin, 54.03 (meet record, previous record 54.73 by Christina Leander, West Chester East, March 2, 2012); 2. Caroline Famous, Conestoga, 55.33; 3. Catherine Weaverling, Garnet Valley, 56.12; 4. Krista Marlin, West Chester Henderson, 56.26; 5. Abby Henderson, Council Rock North, 56.41; 6. Kaley Scholer, Central Bucks South, 56.47; 7. Erini Pappas, Phoenixville, 56.66; 8. Tori Howard, Downingtown West, 56.84;
100 breaststroke: 1. Sydney McCracken, Kennett, 1:03.32; 2. Aly Breslin, Upper Dublin, 1:03.40; 3. Lindsay Yuen, Upper Merion, 1:05.26; 4. (tie) Lina Hofmann, Central Bucks West, and Allison Stewart, Lower Merion, 1:05.33; 6. Maddie Fritz, North Penn, 1:05.42; 7. Eva Welsh, North Penn, 1:05.46; 8. Katherina Jia, Hatboro-Horsham, 1:05.52;
400 freestyle relay: 1. Upper Dublin (Molly Braun, Elle Braun, Korinna Pesti, Aly Breslin), 3:26.69; 2. North Penn, 3:29.94; 3. West Chester Henderson, 3:29.97; 4. Owen J. Roberts, 3:30.92; 5. Downintown East, 3:31.08; 6. Hatboro-Horsham, 3:32.77; 7. Mount St. Joseph, 3:32.90; 8. Radnor, 3:33.51.

Boys swimming
District One championships
Class 2A
Team scores
1. Lower Moreland, 367 points; 2. Springfield (M), 355; 3. Bishop Shanahan, 283; 4. Upper Moreland, 262; 5. Holy Ghost Prep, 224; 6. Pope John Paul II, 60; 7. Pottsgrove, 20.
Event results
100-yard freestyle: 1. John Devaney, New Hope-Solebury, 48.02; 2. Bennett Grothusen, Springfield (M), 48.45; 3. Jude Blumhardt, Lower Moreland, 49.34; 4. Jaden Feldman, Lower Moreland, 49.36; 5. Michael Hood, Springfield (M), 49.39; 6. Patrick Lichtner, Holy Ghost Prep, 49.44; 7. Fred Li, Holy Ghost Prep, 49.71; 8. Matt Wojcik, Upper Moreland, 49.88;
500 freestyle: 1. Henry Phillips, Pope John Paul II, 4:54.17; 2. Ryan Park, Lower Moreland, 5:00.11; 3. Tommy McLaughlin, Springfield (M), 5:06.11; 4. David Imredy, Springfield (M), 5:15.00; 5. Liam Cannon, Springfield (M), 5:17.54; 6. James Samuel, Holy Ghost Prep, 5:19.68; 7. Michael Goldenberg, Lower Moreland, 5:30.31; 8. Zander Butterworth, Upper Moreland, 5:36.89;
100 backstroke: 1. Jack Fidanza, Bishop Shanahan, 53.88; 2. Nicholas Scott, Bishop Shanahan, 54.18; 3. Bennett Grothusen, Springfield (M), 54.30; 4. Noah Ferker, Lower Moreland, 54.6; 5. Ian Pervall, Upper Moreland, 55.44; 6. Ashton Feldman, Lower Moreland, 1:00.77; 7. Sam Shtrambrand, Lower Moreland, 1:00.89; 8. Liam Farrell, Holy Ghost Prep, 1:03.40;
100 breaststroke: 1. Alex Yoon, Lower Moreland, 1:01.18; 2. Brent Hennegan, Springfield (M), 1:01.19; 3. Andrew Knaupp, MaST, 1:01,49; 4. Philip Lee, Holy Ghost Prep, 1:04.65; 5. Brady Hendrickson, Bishop Shanahan, 1:05.35; 6. Tommy McLaughlin, Springfield (M), 1:07.74; 7. Jush Murtaugh, Pope John Paul II, 1:07.75; 8. Eddie Roussel, Upper Moreland, 1:12,66;
400 freestyle relay: 1. Lower Moreland (Ryan Park, Jaden Feldman, Alex Yoon, Noah Ferker), 3:14.40; 2. Springfield (M), 3:14.89; 3. Bishop Shanahan, 3:19.87; 4. Holy Ghost Prep, 3:42.65; 5. Upper Moreland, 4:02.29.

Class 3A
Team scores
1. North Penn, 312 points 2. Upper Dublin, 227; 3. Conestoga, 152; 4. Council Rock North, 149; 5. Downingtown East, 144; 6. Souderton, 125; 7. Boyertown, 110; 8. Owen J. Roberts, 97; 9. Plymouth Whitemarsh, 89; 10. Spring-Ford, 81.
Event results
100-yard freestyle: 1. Matthew Jensen, Upper Dublin, 44.39; 2. Caleb Kelly, Plymouth Whitemarsh, 45.61; 3. Kyle Pro, Upper Dublin, 45.94; 4. Nolan Benner, Boyertown, 46.02; 5. Evan Mancini, North Penn, 46.55; 6. Luke Schwar, North Penn, 46.63; 7. Ryan Faikish, North Penn, 46.90; 8. Brendan Baganski, Spring-Ford, 47.25;
500 freestyle: 1. Dom Edwards, Council Rock North, 4:36.25; 2. Jacob Replogle, Perkiomen Valley, 4:36.84; 3. Max Bachman, North Penn, 4:39.63; 4. Luke McKenna, Spring-Ford, 4;40.90; 5. Rhett Cosgrove, Radnor, 4:41.07; 6. Sean Lyman, Upper Perkiomen, 4:41.79; 7. Matthew Hurford, Garnet Valley, 4:42.41; 8. Raymond Welgosh, Conestoga, 4:42.60;
100 backstroke: 1. Sean Faikish, North Penn, 49.18; 2. Jake DiMartile, Upper Dublin, 49.78; 3. DJ Fechtman, Downingtown East, 50.66; 4. Dalton Fink, Owen J. Roberts, 51.09; 5. Michael Lemishko, Upper Merion, 51.85; 6. Steven Woolery, Penncrest, 51.25; 7. Liam Simmons, Kennett, 52.38; 8. Zach Given, Haverford, 52.44;
100 breaststroke: 1. Joseph Hong, Pennridge, 56.99; 2. Williams Thomas, Marple Newtown, 57.61; 3. Aiden Zipf, Garnet Valley, 57.61; 4. Ben Doyle, Downingtown East, 57.73; 5. A.J. McClurkin, Neshaminy, 57.78; 6. Alex Boeckx, Ridley, 57.91; 7. Nick Clark, North Penn, 58.02; 8. Gary Wang, Conestoga, 58.27;
400 freestyle relay: 1. North Penn (Luke Schwar, Max Bachman, Nick Clark, Sean Faikish), 3:05.27; 2. Upper Dublin, 3:06.75; 3. Council Rock North, 3:10.81; 4. Owen J. Roberts, 3:11.95; 5. Boyertown, 3:13.01; 6. Conestoga, 3:13.34; 7. Souderton, 3:13.56; 8. Garnet Valley, 3:14.09.