All-Delco Boys Swimming: Episcopal Academy’s special generation leads the way
In addition to Boys Swimmer of the Year Brian Brennan of Haverford School, the rest of the All-Delco boys swimming team includes:
Jack Christian, Episcopal Academy: The only underclassmen on the squad, the junior grew into an ideal complement for EA’s historic class of 2020 (Cole Whitsett, Sam Wesley and Ben Wesley). In a season where the county’s strength localized in the sprints and individual medley depth, Christian presided in backstroke and mid-distance freestyle. His time in the 200 free, 1:39.75, earned fourth place at Easterns, an All-American consideration cut and the quickest time in Delco by more than half a second. He was the second-quickest backstroker in the county, just .06 behind Wesley on the way to fifth at Easterns in another All-America consideration cut (49.76). Christian had bested Wesley by .04 for the Inter-Ac title in the event to go with third place in the 200 IM. At Easterns, Christian led off the victorious EA medley relay that set a Delco mark in 1:30.53 and anchored the 400 free relay that finished second in another Delco mark, 3:01.75. Both are automatic All-American times.
Sam Wesley, Episcopal Academy: The senior emerged as the area’s preeminent IMer, winning the event at Easterns in 1:48.46. The time was four-tenths quicker than the Delco mark set by Ivan Puskovitch, the 2019 Daily Times Boys Swimmer of the Year. Wesley also posted an automatic All-American time. He added a bronze medal in the 100 back, clocking in with the county’s quickest time of 49.70, worthy of All-American consideration. Wesley joined EA’s vaunted foursome to claim Delco records in the 200 medley and 400 free relays, making it four medals for him from Easterns. Wesley was second in the 200 free and 100 back at the Inter-Ac Championships, as the Churchmen claimed the league title after an unbeaten dual-meet season. The two-time All-Delco will swim at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
READ: The full list of boys swimming All-Delco honorees
Cole Whitsett, Episcopal Academy: The senior applied a fitting capstone to his stellar career in the 100 butterfly at Easterns, finishing third against a loaded field. The time of 48.74 seconds was an automatic All-American cut, and it downed the Delco record set in 2011 by three-time Swimmer of the Year Shane Ryan of Haverford High (49.13). On the team for a third time, Whitsett finished fifth at Easterns in the 100 breaststroke, his time of 56.35 worthy of All-American consideration and the third-fastest in Delco. His 21.20 flat-start 50 free was also third-quickest in the county. Whitsett swam fly on the record-setting and victorious 200 medley relay and was part of the 400 free relay that set a Delco record in finishing fourth at Easterns to seal fourth place in the boys competition and second in the combined cup. Whitsett also won the 100 fly at the Inter-Ac Championships and was second to Antonio Octaviano in the 100 breast. Whitsett has signed with the University of Tennessee.
Alex Boeckx, Ridley: The only Delco boys swimmer to medal at states, Boeckx returned from Bucknell with two pieces of hardware. He went from the 16th seed in the 200 IM to third in 1:51.85 at the Class 3A Championships, then finished sixth in the morning in the 100 breast before finals were cancelled. Boeckx’s All-American consideration time of 56.33 improved him from the 13th seed. Boeckx finished sixth in both events at the District 1 championships, won the Central League title in the IM and took silver in breaststroke. Boeckx, who is bound for Rider to continue his swimming career, leaves Ridley with the program’s fastest time in all eight individual events. He tallied a top-six time in Delco in seven of the eight swimming events this season.
Antonio Octaviano, Haverford School: Delco produced a year of historic breaststroke depth, with three finalists at Easterns, three swimmers making it back to the (cancelled) finals at states and five All-American cuts. But the senior, in his third All-Delco appearance, was head and shoulders above the group. By less than a tenth, he settled for silver at Easterns, his time of 55.28 seconds earning an automatic All-American spot. It was the quickest in Delco by more than a second. He added eighth place in the 100 fly, his prelims time of 50.91 second only to Whitsett’s record-setting swim. Octaviano also helped the Fords finish second in the medley relay and seventh in the 200 free relay en route to a third-place team finish. He won the Inter-Ac title in the 100 breast and finished second to Whitsett in the 100 fly. Octaviano will continue his career at the University of Minnesota.
READ: Delco Swimming: Boys Top Times
Kieran Clark, Penncrest: In just his second year as a diver, Clark grabbed a state medal by finishing eighth in the PIAA Class 3A competition. Clark scored 409.30 points to get on the podium at Bucknell. He was fourth at the District 1 championships with a score of 448.80, and tallied a season- and county-high 495.55 points to win the Central League championship, running away with the title by nearly 80 points. Clark also cracked 300 points in six-dive competition, scoring 304.65 in a meet Jan. 28 against Harriton. He is the first Penncrest boys swimming and diving All-Delco since 2013 (Philip Nawn).
