Chesco swimmers looking to make waves at PIAA state championships

Chester County swimmers should be making their mark at the PIAA state swimming championships March 19-20 at Cumberland Valley High School.

Conestoga, which captured the PIAA District 1 3A girls championship, and one day later placed second in the District 1 3A boys meet, will be well-represented at the PIAA 3A state championships March 20, with swimmers competing in 11 events.

One individual to watch at States is D-East sophomore Alexa Fulton, who has the top seed time in two events at States (girls 50 free and girls 100 free). Fulton was named Swimmer of the Meet at the District 1 3A girls’ championships.

Several Ches-Mont League girls teams will be well-represented at PIAA 3A States, as three of them finished in the top seven at Districts – Downingtown East (fourth), Unionville (fifth) and West Chester Henderson (seventh).

The Unionville girls have two relay teams with the second-best seed time at States, and two swimmers who have top 3 seed times in individual events. Kennett is represented by two swimmers with top 3 seed times in individual events.

In the PIAA Class 2A state championships, to be held March 19, Villa Maria Academy, Bishop Shanahan and Devon Prep will be represented.

Here’s a look at the Chester County swim teams as they prepare for States:

 

Conestoga (girls)

The Pioneers girls 400 free relay team of junior Delaney Burns, sophomore Lily Robinson, sophomore Naomi Furman and sophomore Audrey Laganelli have the fourth-best seed time in this event at States (3:30.21).

The Pioneers have the seventh-best seed time in the girls 200 medley relay, with a quartet of Kallie Whitaker, Naomi Furman, Delaney Burns and Lily Robinson (1:46.61).

Lily Robinson has the seventh-best seed time in the girls 50 free (23.76) and the 12th-best seed time in the girls 100 free (52.06).

Delaney Burns has the seventh-best seed time in the girls 500 free (5:05.11).

Sophomore Naomi Furman has the eighth-best seed time in the girls 100 breast (1:05.14).

 

Conestoga (boys)

The Pioneers have the third-best seed time in the boys 200 medley relay, with a quartet of Ryan McDonough, Jake Wang, Gary Wang and Stephen Graver (1:34.98).

Conestoga has the fifth-best seed time in the boys 400 free relay (3:09.31) with a lineup of Stephen Graver, Luke Nagel, Raymond Welgosh and Jake Wang.

Pioneer junior Gary Wang has the ninth-best seed time in the boys 100 fly (50.85).

Conestoga freshman Jake Wang has the 10th-best seed time in the boys 100 breast (57.73).

Pioneer junior Raymond Welgosh has the 11th-best seed time in the boys 200 free (1:42.37).

 

Downingtown East

The Cougars are led by sophomore Alexa Fulton, who was Swimmer of the Meet at the District 1 3A girls’ championships.

Fulton is the top seed at States in both the girls 50 free (with a district meet record 22.98) and the girls 100 free (50.49).

Grace Bousum has the fifth-best seed time in the girls 200 free (1:50.76) and the seventh-best seed time in the girls’ 100 fly (56.24)

The Cougars have the fifth-best seed time in the girls 400 free relay with a foursome of Alexa Fulton, Victoria Maki, Lindsay Blake and Grace Bousum (3:30.53).

D-East has the seventh-best seed time in the girls 200 free relay (1:36.66) with a quartet of Alexa Fulton, Victoria Maki, Grace Noble and Grace Bousum.

For the D-East boys, senior DJ Fechtman, the 2020 Daily Local News Boys Swimmer of the Year, has the eighth-best seed time in the boys 100 back (50.82) and the 14th-best seed time in the boys 100 fly (51.28).

 

Unionville

The Longhorns’ girls 200 free relay quartet of Emma McGovern, Emily Albans, Molly Carson and Izzy Iwasyk have the second-best seed time of 1:35.77, behind Hershey (1:34.20).

Unionville’s girls 200 medley relay foursome of Molly Carson, Emma Shields, Madelyn Lowe and Izzy Iwasyk have the second-best seed time of 1:45.45, just behind Fox Chapel (1:45.16).

Iwasyk, a freshman, has the second-best seed time in the girls 50 free (23.42), behind Downingtown East’s Alexa Fulton (22.98).

Unionville senior Molly Carson has the third-best seed time in the girls’ 100 back with a school-record clocking of 55.67.

The Longhorns girls 400 free relay team of Emma McGovern, Emily Albans, Izzy Iwasyk and Molly Carson have the 11th-best seed time (3:34.17).

 

West Chester Henderson

Krista Marlin has the fourth-best seed time in the girls 100 back (55.85) and the ninth-best seed time in the girls 200 free (1:52.69).

Henderson has the fifth-best seed time in the girls 200 free relay with a quartet of Katie Simpson, Rylee Kelly, Shannon Gamble and Krista Marlin (1:36.30).

Warrior junior Dylan Smolders has the sixth-best seed time in the boys 500 free (4:36.39) and the eighth-best seed time in the boys 200 IM (1:53.42).

Henderson has the seventh-best seed time in the girls 400 free relay (3:30.82), with a quartet of Katie Simpson, Rylee Kelly, Shannon Gamble and Krista Marlin.

Rylee Kelly has the eighth-best seed time in the girls 500 free (5:05.73).

 

 

 

Kennett

Blue Demon senior Sydney McCracken had the second-best seed time in the girls 100 breast (1:03.64), behind Shippensburg’s Julia Strine (1:02.61); and she has the ninth-best seed time in the girls 200 IM (2:06.33).

Kennett junior Liam Simmons has the third-best seed time in the boys 100 back (50.31) and the seventh-best seed time in the boys’ 200 IM (1:53.41).

 

Other Chesco swimmers at States include:

Great Valley senior McKaylie Sullivan has the eighth-best seed time in the Class 3A girls 100 fly (56.36).

Downingtown West senior Tori Howard has the eighth-best seed time in the Class 3A girls 100 back (56.66).

Oxford sophomore Alex Karahalis has the 12th-best seed time in the Class 3A boys 100 fly (51.00).

Villa Maria Academy senior Madeline Ladd, who captured her third consecutive District 1 2A title in the 100 back, has the 15th-best seed time at Class 2A States in the event (1:02.10). Hurricane junior Hannah King has the 12th-best seed time in the Class 2A girls 50 free (24.77).

Bishop Shanahan senior Nick Scott has the fourth-best seed time in the Class 2A boys 100 back (51.77) and the sixth-best seed time in the Class 2A boys’ 100 fly (52.04).

Devon Prep senior Liam Sargent III has the 13th-best seed time in Class 2A boys’ 200 free (1:49.28).