Souderton boys, Hatboro-Horsham girls earn wins in the pool

FRANCONIA >> Whenever Souderton is looking for an early-season test, Big Red doesn’t have to look too far.

“We love swimming Hatboro. They’re a really good team and their girls are so strong this year, really fast at the top,” said Big Red coach Lou Williams. “This was a good test for us to see where we’re at, compared to probably one of the best teams in the league.”

The Big Red boys came out with a 120-63 victory while the Hatter girls prevailed 105-78 in a Suburban One League non-division clash at Souderton on Wednesday afternoon. The stands were packed and there was plenty of alumni on hand to check out two of the top teams in District 1-3A and the state.

“We’re working pretty hard right now, as everyone is,” Williams said. “Everybody’s swimming in the mornings before meets so we’re not really expecting best times and super fast swims but I think for where we’re at, we’re in a good spot.”

Drew Stephens, one of Souderton’s senior leaders, had quite a meet, winning two individual events as well as leading two relays to victory to help power Big Red.

“I’m very proud of (the four wins). I think I can go faster in most of my races but I think they were best times this year,” Stephens said. “I’m looking to improve further.”

Stephens raced to victories in both the 50-yard freestyle (22.20) and 100 free (49.38).

Said Williams of the senior: “He’s right on track for what we would like to see at the end of the season. So we have a lot of things to clean up but definitely a great meet for him.”

Stephens joined Matvey Andryushin, Logan Freed and Robbie Ferlick to win the 200 free relay, and the 400 free relay of Stephens, Freed, William Stanczewski and Ferlick also came through.

“The relays are going well,” Stephens said. “We’re trying to fill in some of the spots. Robbie and I have been swimming together for years. And then a lot of the older guys graduated. So we’re trying to get some of the younger guys to step up and take over those spots.”

Other wins for Big Red came from Oliver Milles (diving), Ferlick (100 fly), and Elijah Gehman (100 breast). Stanczewski won both the 200 IM and 500 free for Souderton.

“We let him take a stab at the 200 IM,” Williams said of the sophomore. “And his 500 free (5:13) was excellent today.”

Annie Jia (200 free/100 back), Kathy Jia (200 IM/100 breast), and Sarah Parker (50 free/100 fly) had outstanding meets for the Hatter girls, each winning two individual events.

Souderton heads to a quad meet at Cumberland Valley Wednesday, with Emmaus and Upper St. Clair also in attendance.

“Mike Gobrecht, the Cumberland Valley coach, was my YMCA coach growing up, and we had been talking about this meet for a couple years,” Williams said. “They came out here three years ago and swam against us, had a nice meet. We were supposed to go there last year but missed it (due to the pandemic). We’re going there next week and he’s bringing in some other teams — a Western PA team, a Central PA team, a Southeastern PA team and a Northeastern PA team. Four very solid teams.”

“Very excited about the quad meet,” Stephens said. “Looking for some good times there.”