District 1 swimming championships: Eruslanova primes for states with two district titles

Katya Eruslanova is in fine form as she heads toward a defense of her PIAA state title.

The Haverford High junior and reigning Daily Times Girls Swimmer of the Year won the 200 individual medley for the second straight season and added the 500 freestyle crown at the District 1 Class 3A meet Saturday and Sunday at York Area YMCA.

Eruslanova defended her crown in the IM by going 2:01.66. That’s a second faster than she was last year and even quicker than the 2:01.81 she used to win the state title in 2021. She added a victory in the 500 free in 4:52.88, an event in which she was the state silver medalist last year.

Eruslanova will have local company at states in two weeks, with District 1 champions getting an automatic place in states alongside the 24 top times statewide once thgeOne of those extremely likely to get there is Strath Haven’s Sydney Bergstrom, the reigning state champ in the 500 free. Bergstrom was fourth at districts her signature event in 4:57.85. She also finished seventh in the 200 free, in what is likely a sufficient time to qualify.

Radnor’s Audrey Collins had a stellar first day, finishing third in the 200 IM and fourth in the 100 fly. She should be joined at states by teammate Marina Wang, who took ninth in the 50 free and seventh in the 100. Radnor should place two relays in states, with the 200 medley relay of Wang, Collins, Anne Lindgren and Avery Barber finishing third and the 400 free relay of Collins, Kelsey Wakiyama, Barber and Wang in sixth. The Raptors finished sixth in the team standings, the only Delco team in the top 12.

Springfield’s Mary Kubiak is in great shape after finishing fourth in the 100 back. She was also 10th in the 50 free. Her sister, Michelle, was 13th in the 200 free, facing a less certain wait. Garnet Valley freshman Zoey Rogers had a great meet, finishing eighth in both the 100 fly and 100 back. Lindgren was ninth and Wakiyama was 12th in the 100 fly.

In the Class 2A girls meet, Delco Christian senior AnnaScott McKeaney did the sprint double, winning the 50 free in 24.31 seconds and the 100 free in 52.67 to book states trips.

On the boys side, Jake Kennedy is bound for states again, part of a deep Springfield contingent. The sophomore went 20.99 in the 50 free to take home the silver medal, then went fifth in the 100 free. Teammate Jacob Johnson likewise grabbed a silver medal, going 49.92 in the 100 fly.

Springfield will have a pair of states relays, with the 200 medley relay placing fourth and the 200 free relay in fifth. Kennedy, Michael Huegel, Jacob Johnson and Luke Kennedy comprised both quartets. Huegel was 11th in the 500 free and 13th in the 200 IM, sandwiched between teammates Tristan Ronayne and Alex Chan in the latter. Johnson was also 12th in the 100 free. The Cougars led Delco with a fifth-place team result.

Rhett Cosgrove will probably get to swim the 500 at states, the Radnor junior finishing fifth. Less certain is the 200, where he was 12th.

The most perplexing week belonged to Ridley’s Shane Eckler, who twice tied in his sprint events. Luckily, they were podium ties: Fifth in the 50 free and sixth in the 100, which should safely land him in states.

Haverford’s Kyle Given finished eighth in the 100 fly and seventh in the 100 back, both likely worth of states swims. Radnor finished 11th in the 200 medley and 400 free relays. Penncrest freshman Jonathan Hoole had an impressive debut, even if his 13th place in the 100 back doesn’t make states.