Presenting 2020 All-Main Line boys swimming teams

The 2019-20 Main Line high school boys’ swimming season featured a sizable number of talented swimmers, who got to display their talents last winter despite the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, which cut short the PIAA state tournaments in mid-March.

Top Main Line boys’ swimming squads included Conestoga (11-0 in the Central League); Episcopal Academy (Inter-Ac champion, fourth place at Easterns); Friends’ Central (5-1, Friends’ Schools League champion for the 16th consecutive year); Lower Merion (9-2); Haverford High (9-2); Haverford School (third place at Easterns); Malvern Prep (seventh at Easterns); and Radnor (third place at Central League meet).

The All-Main Line high school boys’ swimming teams are selected by the coaches. Because Main Line Media News covers 19 high schools, the Main Line Media News sports staff limits the number of sports available to first team, second team and honorable mention – but follows the priority of the coaches’ selections.

What follows are the 2019-20 All-Main Line high school boys’ swimming teams:

FIRST TEAM

Raymond Welgosh, Conestoga – Sophomore finished 11th at States in both the 200 free and 500 free. At Districts, he was fifth in the 200 free and eighth in the 500 free, and finished first in the 200 free at the Central League Championships.

Gary Wang, Conestoga – Sophomore finished ninth in the 100 breast and 19th in the 100 fly at States. Was eighth in both the 100 fly and 100 breast at Districts, and finished in the top three in both events at the Central League Championships.

Stephen Graver, Conestoga – Versatile sophomore finished first in the 100 free and fifth in the 200 free at the Central League Championships; was 11th in both the 200 IM and 100 free at Districts; and placed in the top 25 in the 200 IM at States.

Sam Wesley, Episcopal Academy – At Easterns, senior finished first in 200 IM with an All-American time of 1:48.46, finished third in the 100 back (49.70), and was part of the first-place 200 medley relay quartet and the second-place 400 free relay team. Was second in 200 free and 100 back at Inter-Ac Championships. Will swim for U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Ben Wesley, Episcopal Academy – Senior All-American swimmer is school record holder in 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay. At Easterns, was seventh in both 100 breast and 200 IM, and was part of the first-place 200 medley relay and second-place 400 free relay. Was second in the 100 free and 200 IM at Inter-Acs. Will swim at Swarthmore College.

Cole Whitsett, Episcopal Academy – At Easterns senior finished third in the 100 fly with an All-American time of 48.74, was fifth in 100 breast (56.35), and was part of the first-place 200 medley relay quartet and the second-place 400 free relay team. At Inter-Ac Championships, was first in 100 fly and second in 100 breast. Will swim for University of Tennessee.

Jack Christian, Episcopal Academy – Junior was fourth in 200 free (1:39.75) at Easterns, where he also placed fifth in the 100 back (49.76). Also at Easterns, he led off the first-place 200 medley relay (All-American time of 1:30.53) and anchored the second-place 400 free relay team (All-American time of 3:01.750> was first ion 100 back and third in the 200 IM at Inter-Acs.

Zach Given, Haverford High – Senior finished 13th in the 100 back (51.36) at the PIAA state championships, and placed in the top 20 in the 50 free at the District 1 championships. Was first team All-Central League swimmer.

Brian Brennan, Haverford School – Senior was Inter-Ac Most Valuable Player and All-Delco Boys’ Swimmer of the Year. Finished second in both the 50 free and 100 free at Easterns, and is the highest point scorer in Ford history.

Jack Deppen, Haverford School – Junior was the Fords’ swimming Most Valuable Player award winner and an automatic All-American. Finished fifth in the 200 free (1:40.32) at Easterns, where he also placed fifth in the 500 free (4:36.67).

Antonio Octaviano, Haverford School – Senior was second in 100 breast at Easterns (55.28, automatic All-American), where he also placed eighth in the 100 fly. He won the Inter-Ac title in the 100 breast and finished second to Cole Whitsett in the 100 fly. Will swim for the University of Minnesota.

Joshua Sultanik, Lower Merion – Sophomore, a first team All-Central League swimmer, was a strong performer in the 50 free and 100 free, placing in the top 15 in both events at the PIAA District 1 Class 3A Championships.

Nick Harris, Malvern Prep – Sophomore was the Inter-Ac, National Catholic and Easterns champion in the 1m diving event for the second consecutive year. Broke his own school record numerous times, and set pool records at EA, Penn Charter, GA and Hill School. Was the Friars’ co-MVP, and was a candidate for Inter-Ac Most Valuable Player.

Ryan Durkan, Malvern Prep – Junior finished sixth in 200 IM (1:53.32) and placed sixth in 100 breast (56.77) at Easterns, Was Malvern’s co-MVP along with diver Nick Harris, and broke the school record in the 100 breast (56.69). A first team All-Inter-Ac swimmer based on his performances in 100 breast and 200 IM, and was a key part of the Friars’ All-American consideration 200 medley relay.

Rhett Cosgrove, Radnor – Sophomore was a standout in the 500 free, finishing 20th at States, fifth at Districts and first at the Central League championships. Was 19th at Districts in the 100 fly, and swam the fly leg on the medley relay that placed 13th at States, and was a member of the 400 free relay that finished 16th at the same meet.

Jack Undercofler, Radnor – Junior was the Raiders’ dual meet point scorer this season, losing only one individual race out of 33 races. Placed third in 100 fly and 100 back at Central League Championships, swam the backstroke leg on the medley relay that placed 13th at States, and was a member of the 400 free relay that finished 16th at that event.

SECOND TEAM

Conestoga – Luke Nagel, junior; James Hughes, senior.
Episcopal Academy – Will Hopkins, junior; Henry Haupt, freshman.
Harriton – Francis Fan, freshman; Quentin Stoloff, senior.
Haverford High – Jon Meyer, junior; Dean Carson, senior.

Haverford School – Bobby Blewett, senior; Aaron Crescente, senior.
Lower Merion – Liam Keating, junior; Phillip Gao, sophomore.
Malvern Prep – Kevin Cary, sophomore; Jack Cassidy, senior.
Radnor – Brian Chettle, senior; Wil Cosgrove, senior; Chase Bentley, sophomore.

HONORABLE MENTION

Barrack Hebrew Academy – Daniel Bernstein, junior.
Devon Prep – Liam Sargent, sophomore.
Episcopal Academy – Jonathan Valdez, junior.
Friends’ Central – Spencer Thorne, sophomore; Holder Kopcsik, sophomore; Ethan Cohen, sophomore.
Harriton – Thaddaeus Kiker, freshman; Michael O’Connor, senior.
Haverford High – Kyle Given, freshman.

Haverford School – Zach Sumner, senior; Ryan LaRocca, senior.
Lower Merion – Omar Niazy, freshman; Eric Bing, senior; Maxwell Forrester, junior.
Malvern Prep – Danny Faunce, senior; Alex Hamill, sophomore.
Radnor – Jack Lindgren, senior; Leo Mlodzienski, junior.

Note: Archbishop Carroll and Shipley did not submit All-Main Line boys swimming nomination ballots.