Conestoga boys, girls prevail at Central League swimming championships
After rolling through the Central League dual meets undefeated this winter, the Conestoga boys and girls swimming teams easily finished first at the Central League Swimming Championships Feb. 11-12 at Ridley High School.
The Conestoga girls amassed 664 points, more than double the total of the second-place team, Radnor (313).
“This caps off an amazing season for our team,” said Conestoga girls swim coach Rob Kirkby. “We set countless personal bests, pool records, meet records and three team records, which is an amazing feat for a team not rested.”
The Pioneer boys totaled 560 points, well ahead of second-place Springfield (326 points)
“We had an awesome meet with everyone getting at least one season best time, if not two or three,” said Pioneers boys swim coach Mark Tirone. “It was a very fast meet and all of our guys really swam well to finish off their Central League season.”
Leading the way for the Conestoga boys was Jake Wang, with four first-place finishes (200 IM, 100 breast, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay) and setting pool records in the 200 IM (1:52.05), 100 breast (55.45), 100 freestyle (to lead off the 400 free relay) and also set pool records as a member of both the 200 medley relay (1:34.01) and 400 free relay (3:08.16).
“Jake really had a phenomenal meet,” said Tirone.
Conestoga’s Gary Wang was first in the 100 back with a pool record 51.02, and was part of two first-place Pioneer relay squads.
The Conestoga boys won all three relays at the Central League Championships – the 200 medley relay of Gary Wang, Jake Wang, Ryan McDonough and Matt Pawlow (pool/meet record 1:34.01, winner by more than 3 seconds); the 200 free relay team of Gary Wang, Brock Whitaker, Raymond Welgosh and Stephen Graver (pool record 1:26.89); and the 400 free relay team of Jake Wang, John Yeniay, Raymond Welgosh and Stephen Graver (pool record 3:08.16).
For the Conestoga girls, Naomi Furman broke the school record, pool record and meet record in the 100 breast with a time of 1:03.11. Lily Robinson set pool and meet records in the 50 free (23.07) and 100 free (51.14). The Pioneers quartet of Delaney Burns, Audrey Laganelli, Furman and Robinson broke the pool and meet records with a clocking of 3:29.84.
The Conestoga girls won all three relays, including the 200 medley relay of Keira Haas, Furman, Burns and Robinson (pool record 1:45.93) and the 200 free relay team of Kallie Whitaker, Brianna Fan, Haas and Laganelli (pool record 1:39.21). Laganelli was first in the 200 free with a pool record 1:51.56.
Depth was key
Conestoga’s depth was a key to the Pioneers’ dominant finish for both boys and girls.
For the Pioneer girls, Kirkby noted that freshman Avery Hillier set a team record with her second-place finish in diving (451.80), and that she was closely followed by third-place finisher (and teammate) sophomore Grace Gallagher (443.95). Kirkby also noted that Burns broke her own school record (and the pool record) in the girls’ 500 free with a time of 5:01.96, which was good for third place.
Top three finishes for the Pioneer girls included Burns (placed third in the 200 free), Furman (second in the 200 IM), Laganelli (second in the 100 free) and Adriana Bertolotti (third in the 100 breast).
Top three finishes for the Conestoga boys included Jack Semmer (placed third in 200 free), Raymond Welgosh (second in both 200 IM and 100 breast), James Manion (third in 200 IM), John Yeniay (second in both 100 fly and 500 free), Gary Wang (third in 100 fly) and Ryan McDonough (second in 100 back).
