Unionville’s swimming depth sinks West Chester Rustin

West Chester >> Unionville’s depth proved vital in the Longhorns’ two swimming victories against West Chester Rustin Wednesday evening at the West Chester Area YMCA.

The Unionville girls (3-0) won by a score of 112-71, and the Longhorn boys (2-1) prevailed, 101-75.

“I think depth was the key for us, all around, for both boys and girls tonight,” said Unionville swimming head coach Mike Mangan.

The Unionville girls, who finished fourth at States last winter, currently feature a strong lineup of swimmers from that squad. One of those swimmers is sophomore Izzy Iwasyk, who won two individual events Wednesday, the girls 100 free (55.00) and the girls 50 free (24.87).

Longhorn freshman Amelia Miller also won two individual events Wednesday, the girls 200 free (2:06.55) and the girls 500 free (5:47.12).

“Amelia has been swimming well for us this season, but this was a particularly good meet for her,” said Mangan. “She posted great times tonight, and she came through when we needed her.”

The Unionville girls won all three relays. The quartet of Izzy Iwasyk, Delaney Harlan, Emily Albans and Amelia Miller won the girls 200 medley relay (1:54.83); the foursome of Delaney Harlan, Devin Callahan, Jillian Murphy and Lauren Dobie won the girls 200 free relay (1:45.90); and the quartet of Emily Albans, Lauren Dobie, Amelia Miller and Izzy Iwasyk won the girls 400 free relay (3:52.87).

Two Rustin girls won two individual events apiece – junior Lily Turco won the girls 200 IM (2:15.34) and girls 100 breast (1:10.41), and junior Flynn Truskett won the girls 100 fly (1:01.56) and girls 100 back (1:01.21).

Rustin freshman Ellie Smith won the girls diving event (210.55).

Interestingly, Unionville junior Devin Callahan, who was part of the Longhorns’ first-place 200 free relay team, is the younger sister of Rustin girls swimming coach Keira Callahan. Keira used to swim for Unionville High School, and one of the courses she took at Unionville was U.S. History, taught by Mike Mangan.

Keira said, “It felt really good to see Devin swim – she doesn’t swim for an outside club, so the only opportunity I get to see her swim for Unionville, and their meets this season have fallen on the same nights as ours.”

A variety of Unionville boys placed first in the individual events Wednesday. Junior Ernesto Solana won the boys 200 free (1:55.19); junior Harrison Kachel won the boys 50 free (23.71); junior Matt McLellan won the boys 100 fly (56.86); freshman John Albans won the boys 500 free (5:25.61); and sophomore Kyle O’Neill won the boys 100 breast (1:09.99). O’Neill won his event by .02 seconds.

The Unionville quartet of Grant McKnight, Brendan Manion, Jack Lawrence and Spero Ferentinos won the boys 200 free relay (1:38.81).

“We had a few pleasant surprises on the boys side, we had a few swimmers who really stepped up tonight, like Matt McLellan in the 100 fly and Kyle O’Neill in the 100 breaststroke,” said Mangan. “Our boys 500 free swimmers did a great job – Jonathan Stanick finished second and Faisal Alzaim was third, and they were in a tight race for second place.

It was Senior Night for Rustin, and for the Golden Knight boys, senior Adam Khatib won the boys 200 IM (2:07.69) and boys 100 free (50.80). Rustin sophomore AJ Chapman won the boys 100 back with a time of 56.02, which made the District cut.

The Rustin quartet of AJ Chapman, Sebastian Hess, George Harkins and Adam Khatib won the boys 200 medley relay (1:45.25), and the Golden Knight foursome of Adam Khatib, Sebastian Hess, George Harkins and AJ Chapman won the boys 400 free relay (3:29.19).