DLN SWIMMING NOTEBOOK: Ches-Mont swimmers post notable times as Districts approach

Chester County swimmers continued to post some notable times in the Ches-Mont League Virtual Invitational #4 for the week ending Feb. 14. 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 the Ches-Mont swimmers and divers are performing through February 14:

 

Avon Grove swimmer Liam Perrin currently has the second-fastest time in the Ches-Mont League this season in both the boys 200 free (1:47.57) and the boys’ 500 free (4:55.98).

Alex Whitton has the fourth-best time in the boys 500 free, with a clocking of 4:58.97.

In the girls 200 free relay, the quartet of Ava Pfaff, Catie Weingarten, Annika Pfaff and Sophia Paglia has the fifth-best time in the Ches-Mont (1:46.74).

 

Bishop Shanahan swimmers improved their District 1 qualifying status at the Eagles’ Feb. 12 meet. Kerri Stewart made the cut for girls 100 back (1.00.33, sixth-best in Ches-Mont so far this season) and two Shanahan boys lowered their qualifying times: Patrick Taylor in the boys 100 free (53.27) and Matthew Carpenter in the boys 50 free (24.77).

Nicholas Scott has district qualifying times in four events – 50 free (23.03), 100 fly (53.14, fourth-best in Ches-Mont), 100 free (53.73) and 100 back (55.95, fourth-best in Ches-Mont this season). Patrick Taylor (50 free, 100 free) and Brady Hendrickson (50 free, 100 breast) each have qualifying times in two events.

All three Shanahan boys relay teams (200 free, 400 free, 200 medley) have district qualifying times as well.

 

Coatesville diver Sarah McManamon currently ranks second in the Ches-Mont League this season for girls 1-meter diving, with 210.65 points, behind Sarah McHugh of West Chester East (254.00). Jacob Vannoy has the fifth-fastest time in the boys 50 free (22.78).

 

Downingtown East swimmers posted some new or improved District cuts at their Feb. 12 meet. In the girls 200 medley relay, the D-East quartet of Lindsay Blake, Grace Bousum, Grace Noble and Alexa Fulton finished in 1:50.23, which is the third-fastest clocking in the Ches-Mont to date. In the boys 200 medley relay, the Cougar foursome of DJ Fechtman, Will Thompson, Aidan McIlroy and Aiden Carroll posted a time of 1:39.73, the fastest clocking in the Ches-Mont this season to date.

Grace McElroy posted a time of 1:11.33 in the 100 breast, currently the fifth-best clocking in Ches-Mont, and Will Thompson clocked 1:01.98 in the 100 breast, currently the third-best time in Ches-Mont.
In the girls 400 free relay, the D-East quartet of Alexa Fulton, Victoria Maki, Grace Noble and Grace Bousum posted a time of 3:41.14 at the Feb. 12 meet, third-best in Ches-Mont.

Other strong showings by D-East at the Feb. 12 meet included Cady Kiebort (50 free, 26.57); Aiden Carroll (50 free, 23.50); George Liu (100 fly, 59.89); and Luke Sperling (100 free, 54.96).

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, currently has the top time in the Ches-Mont for both the girls 50 free (23.91) and the girls 100 free (51.88). Grace Bousum currently has the fastest time in the girls 100 fly (56.79).

DJ Fechtman has posted the second-fastest time in the Ches-Mont this season in the boys 100 back (52.80), boys 50 back (24.40) and boys 100 fly (52.39).

D-East swimmers who currently rank near the top of the Ches-Mont include Aidan McElroy (boys 50 free, 22.47, second); Victoria Maki (girls 100 free, 54.81, second; girls 50 back, 27.51, second); Grace Bousum (girls 200 free, 1:54.47, second); Lindsay Blake (girls 100 back, 59.74, fifth); Grace Noble (100 fly, 1:00.40, fifth); the boys’ 200 free relay of Gabe Carroll, DJ Fechtman, Aiden Carroll and Aidan McIlroy (1:31.73, second); and diver Mitchell Goldman (212.92, second).

 

Downingtown West swimmer Brandon Ye currently has the fastest time in the Ches-Mont League this season for the boys 100 free (50.43). He also has the third-fastest time in the 100 fly (52.95) and the fifth-fastest clocking in the boys 100 breast (1:04.08).

Alexa Houseknecht has the second-fastest time in the girls 200 IM (2:13.12) and ranks fourth in girls 100 breast (1:09.74).

Tori Howard currently ranks third in girls 100 back (57.90) and fourth in the 50 free (25.14).

Other top-ranked Whippet swimmers include Alicia Littler (girls 200 free, 1:56.28, fourth) and Rachel Kacamarski (girls 500 free, 5:52.06, seventh).

 

Great Valley swimmer McKaylie Sullivan currently has the second-fastest time in the Ches-Mont this season in the girls 100 fly (57.86).

Seth Turner posted the third-fastest time in the boys 50 free (22.50).

Molly Foltz currently has the fourth-fastest time in the Ches-Mont this season for the girls 500 free (5:23.27).

 

Kennett junior Liam Simmons has posted the fastest time in the Ches-Mont this season in the boys 50 free (22.18), boys 200 free (1:46.68), boys 50 back (23.67) and boys 100 back (50.79). He ranks second in both the boys 100 breast (1:01.66) and the boys 200 IM (1:57.67).

Blue Demon senior Sydney McCracken currently has the fastest times in the Ches-Mont League for both the girls 200 IM (2:07.85) and girls 100 breast (1:04.72). She ranks fourth in the girls 100 free (55.17).

 

Oxford swimmer Alex Karahalis currently holds the fastest time in the Ches-Mont this season for both the boys’ 100 breast (1:01.01) and the boys 100 fly (51.26).

Hornet freshman Chase Bearley currently has the fifth-fastest time in the Ches-Mont this season in the boys 100 free (51.82).

 

Unionville swimmer Izzy Iwasyk currently ranks second in the Ches-Mont this season in the girls 50 free (24.14), fourth in the girls 100 back (58.62), sixth in the girls 100 free (55.23) and third in the girls 50 back (27.69).

Molly Carson currently has the fastest time in the Ches-Mont this season in the girls 100 back (56.62) and the 50 back (26.84).

Emma Shields currently has the second-fastest time in the Ches-Mont this season in the girls 500 free (5:16.32).

Madelyn Lowe has the third-fastest time in the girls 100 fly (58.00) and ranked fifth in girls 200 IM (2:15.39).

Max Braithwaite posted the second-fastest time in the Ches-Mont for the boys 100 free (51.63), followed by Unionville teammate Ernesto Solana (51.64, third). Solana also has the fifth-fastest time in the boys 200 free (1:51.59) and the fourth-best time in the 50 back (27.64).

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

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

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

 

West Chester East swimmer Taiylor Tegler has the second-fastest time in the Ches-Mont this season in the girls 100 breast (1:08.18) and ranks fourth in the girls 200 IM (2:14.97).

Sarah McHugh has the highest point total in girls’ 1-meter diving (254.00), nearly 45 points higher than the second-place finisher.

Tie Manuel has the third-fastest time in the boys 50 back (26.62) and the boys 100 back (54.39). He is fourth in the boys’ 50 free (22.75), the boys 100 free (51.69) and the boys 200 IM (2:04.58). Jonathan Sherlock has the fourth-fastest time in the boys 100 breast (1:02.88) and the third-best clocking in the boys 200 IM (2:03.54).

Ben Cronauer currently ranks first in the Ches-Mont this season for diving (217.25).

 

West Chester Henderson swimmer Krista Marlin has the fastest time in the Ches-Mont League this season in the girls 200 free (1:51.86) and the second-fastest time in the 100 back (56.94).

Rylee Kelly has the fastest time in the Ches-Mont in the 500 free (5:03.01) and the third-fastest clocking in the girls 200 free (1:55.12).

Dylan Smolders currently has the fastest time in both the boys 500 free (4:45.78) and the boys 200 IM (1:55.08) in the Ches-Mont this season.

Katie Simpson currently ranks third in the Ches-Mont in the girls 50 free (24.76) and fifth in the girls 100 free (55.19).

Hannah Fruhwirth posted the third-fastest time in the girls 200 IM with a clocking of 2:14.21.

PJ Cronauer has the fourth-fastest time in the boys 200 free (1:49.77) and the third-best clocking in the boys 500 free (4:57.85).

In the girls 400 free relay, the Warrior quartet of Katie Simpson, Rylee Kelly, Shannon Gamble and Krista Marlin recorded the top time in the Ches-Mont this season (3:36.24).

In the boys 200 free relay, the foursome of Tie Manuel, Vedant Bedekar, PJ Cronauer and Dylan Smolders have recorded the fastest time in the Ches-Mont this season (1:31.20).

In the boys 400 free relay, the Warrior quartet of Tie Manuel, Vedant Bedekar, PJ Cronauer and Dylan Smolders currently have the best time in the Ches-Mont League this season (3:22.18).

 

West Chester Rustin swimmer Flynn Truskett ranks third in the Ches-Mont in the girls 100 free (55.16) and fifth in the girls 50 free (25.15).

Lily Turco currently has the third-fastest time in the Ches-Mont this season in the girls 500 free (5:20.92) and the fourth-fastest time in the 100 fly (59.35).

Kate Mondick has the fifth-fastest time in both the girls 500 free (5:27.25) and girls 200 free (2:01.43).

Sara Jackson has the third-fastest time in the girls 100 breast (1:08.96).

Adam Khatib currently has the third-fastest time in the Ches-Mont in the boys 200 free this season, with a clocking of 1:48.61. He also has posted a 53.18 in the boys 100 fly, the fifth-best clocking in the Ches-Mont this season.