DLN SWIM NOTEBOOK: Fechtman, McIlroy among turn in top times at Ches-Mont Invitational

Chester County swimmers posted some notable times in the Ches-Mont League Virtual Invitational #3 for the week ending Feb. 6. The Ches-Mont Virtual Invitationals are a series of swimming and diving competitions in which the Ches-Mont schools participate – team points are not recorded, but top times for each of the 24 events are posted on a rolling basis for District 1 consideration.

Here’s a look at how Ches-Mont swimmers and divers fared for the Ches-Mont League Virtual Invitational #3 (Jan. 31- Feb. 6):

Downingtown East senior DJ Fechtman, who posted a time of 53.23 in the boys 100 back at the Ches-Mont Virtual Invitational #2, recorded an improved clocking of 52.80 for the fastest time in that event for the Ches-Mont Virtual Invitational #3.

Aidan McIlroy, who posted the fastest time in the boys 50 free (22.47) for the Ches-Mont League Virtual Invitational #2, also recorded the best time at Invitational #3 (22.71).

For the D-East girls, sophomore Alexa Fulton, who finished in the top four at the PIAA Class AAA state championships last year in both the girls 50 free and girls 100 free, had the top time in the girls 100 free (51.88) for Invitational #3. Teammate Victoria Maki had the second-fastest clocking (54.81) in the girls 100 free.

D-East senior Grace Bousum posted a clocking of 1:54.47 to pace all swimmers in the girls 200 free for Invitational #3.

Lindsay Blake, who finished second in the girls 100 back for the Ches-Mont Virtual Invitational #2 with a clocking of 1:00.66, posted an improved time of 59.74 for Invitational #3 to place third.

Grace Noble posted the second-fastest time in the 100 fly (1:00.40) and Will Thompson posted the second-fastest time in the boys 100 breast (1:04.64) for Invitational #3.

In the boys’ 200 free relay, the Cougar quartet of Gabe Carroll, DJ Fechtman, Aiden Carroll and Aidan McIlroy recorded the fastest time for Invitational #3, a clocking of 1:31.73.

Downingtown West’s Alexa Houseknecht posted the fastest time in the girls 100 breast for Invitational #3, clocking 1:09.74.

Brandon Ye posted the fastest time in the boys 100 free (50.43) for Invitational #3.

Tori Howard posted the second-fastest time in the girls 100 back (59.72); Asa Ernest had the second-fastest time in the boys’ 200 free (1:54.93); Alicia Littler had the second-best time in the girls 200 free (2:00.13); and Rachel Kacamarski posted the second-fastest time in the girls 500 free (5:52.06) for Invitational #3.

Kennett senior Sydney McCracken, who achieved district qualification times for the Ches-Mont Virtual Invitational #2 in the girls 200 IM (2:07.85) and girls 100 breast (1:04.72), posted the fastest time in the girls 200 IM for Invitational #3 with a clocking of 2:13.61.

Blue Demon junior Liam Simmons, who achieved district qualification times in the boys’ 200 IM (1:57.67) and boys 100 back (50.79) at the Ches-Mont League Virtual Invitational #2, posted the fastest time in the boys’ 200 IM (1:58.03) for Invitational #3.

In the boys’ 200 medley relay, the Kennett quartet of Liam Simmons, Carter Elliott, Gabe Summa and Charlie Lesher posted the best time (1:45.37) for Invitational #3.

The Blue Demons had the top two finishers in the boys 100 fly for Invitational #3 – Liam Simmons (53.77) and Joshua McQueen (58.81).

In the boys’ 200 free relay, the Blue Demon quartet of Liam Simmons, Alexander Fialkowski, Charlie Lesher and Carter Elliott posted the second-fastest time (1:35.06) for Invitational #3.

Unionville finished with the fastest time for Invitational #3 in all three of the girls’ relays.

Longhorn head coach Elizabeth Smith noted, “Our girls relay teams were awesome [for Invitational #3].”

In the girls 400 free relay, the Longhorn quartet of Emma McGovern, Madelyn Lowe, Izzy Iwasyk and Molly Carson posted the fastest time (3:36.72).

In the girls’ 200 free relay, the Unionville quartet of Molly Carson, Emma McGovern, Madelyn Lowe and Izzy Iwasyk recorded the top time (1:37.48).

In the girls’ 200 medley relay, the Longhorns foursome of Molly Carson, Emma Shields, Madelyn Lowe and Izzy Iwasyk posted the best time for the week (1:47.10).

In the girls 100 back, Izzy Iwasyk recorded the fastest time for Invitational #3, with a clocking of 59.26.

Madelyn Lowe posted the fastest time in the 100 fly (58.00) for Invitational #3.

Emma McGovern posted the fastest time in the girls 50 free for Invitational #3, clocking 25.65. Teammate Emily Albans recorded the second-fastest time (25.78).

In the boys’ 200 free, Ernesto Solano posted the fastest time for Invitational #3, with a clocking of 1:52.70.

Emma Shields posted the fastest time in the girls’ 500 free (5:21.87) for Invitational #3.

West Chester East swimmer Jonathan Sherlock recorded the fastest time in the boys 100 breast (1:04.60) for Invitational #3, and posted the second-fastest time in the boys’ 200 IM (2:04.91). His recorded time in the 200 IM was a lifetime-best clocking.

Sarah McHugh posted the highest point total in girls’ 1-meter diving for Invitational #3 (247.35), nearly 60 points higher than the second-place finisher.

Tie Manuel had the second-fastest time in the boys’ 100 free (51.69), and Tyler Pachuda posted a lifetime-best clocking (1:58.43, fourth place) in the boys 200 free.

West Chester Henderson swimmer Hannah Fruhwirth posted the second-fastest time in the girls 200 IM for Invitational #3 with a clocking of 2:14.21. Fruwirth had the third-best time in the girls’ 100 breast (1:11.81).

Jake Brower posted the highest point total in boys’ 1-meter diving for Invitational #3 (204.35), and PJ Cronauer recorded the fastest time in the boys’ 500 free (4:57.85).

In the boys’ 400 free relay, the Warrior quartet of Tie Manuel, Rohin Gastupta, Quinten Birl and PJ Cronauer posted the fastest time for Invitational #3, a clocking of 3:44.78.

West Chester Rustin swimmer Sara Jackson posted the second-fastest time in the girls 100 breast for Invitational #3, clocking 1:11.36.

In other local high school swimming action:

Conestoga (boys) defeated Radnor, 105-70, Feb. 5. The Pioneers finished first in the medley relay (Ryan McDonough, Jake Wang, Gary Wang, Stephen Graver, 1:35.46); 200 freestyle (Luke Nagel, 1:42.15); 200 IM (James Manion, 2:00.12); 50 free (Stephen Graver, 22.45), diving (Patrick Hoey, 158 points); 100 fly (John Yeniay, 53.48); 100 free (Raymond Welgosh, 48.38): 200 free relay (Jake Wang, Stephen Graver, Raymond Welgosh, Luke Nagel, 1:29.73); and 100 breaststroke (Gary Wang, 58.84).

Malvern Prep swam a tri-meet against Episcopal Academy and Haverford School Feb. 4, for which score was kept – only swimmers’ times were recorded, and those times were submitted to the Eastern Preps Virtual Leaderboard. First-place finishers for Malvern were in the 200 medley relay (Alex Hamill, Patrick Rooney, Tommy Moul, Ben Kutufaris, 1:38.70), diving (Nick Harris, 335 points), 100 free (Kevin Cary, 47.77), 500 free (Brady Tierney, 4:51.13), 100 breast (Patrick Rooney, 1:00.65); 200 free relay (Kevin Cary, Erik Yablonski, Brady Tierney, Ben Kutufaris, 1:28.72); and 400 free relay (Tommy Moul, Brady Tierney, Alex Hamill, Kevin Cary, 3:17.35).