Downingtown East’s Alexa Fulton is golden at PIAA 3A state swimmeet
Downingtown East High School junior Alexa Fulton led the way for Chester County swimmers at the PIAA Class 3A state swimming and diving championships Thursday at Bucknell University, as she was named Girls Swimmer of the Meet.
After finishing first in the girls 50 free Wednesday for the second year in a row (posting a PIAA record time of 22.66), Fulton won the gold medal in the girls 100 free Thursday with a personal-best clocking of 49.04. Last year at the PIAA 3A state championships, Fulton won gold medals in the same two events, and was named Girls Swimmer of the Meet.
“Alexa took off in the first 50 and after her second turn she was swimming in open water,” said Downingtown East girls swimming coach Sean Wyatt. “She had an incredible state meet and we’re very proud of her accomplishments. Alexa has proven herself to be everything she has strived for – her hard work has paid off and her Swimmer of the Meet award solidifies that. She’s an amazing athlete and overall person and we look forward to many more showings of her talent like she did at this meet.”
Overall, Downingtown East finished 13th in the 3A girls team standings. Only two Chester County girls teams did better – Conestoga (second place) and West Chester Henderson (fifth).
Conestoga girls swimming coach Rob Kirkby said, “We had to fight through a lot of adversity this meet with girls being sick, injured, hurting themselves mid-meet, etc., but in the end the girls fought hard and came up with big swims when we needed them most. Our divers also were a huge part of our win, contributing 30 points between the two of them. Overall I am so proud of this team and what they were able to accomplish this year. Being the state runner up is a great finish to an incredible season.”
For the Conestoga girls, junior Lily Robinson finished fifth in the girls 50 free (23.63) and eighth in the girls 100 free (51.91), and the Pioneers’ Naomi Furman finished third in the girls 100 breast (1:03.95) and seventh in the girls 200 IM (2:06.25). Audrey Laganelli finished seventh in the girls 200 free (1:52.11).
The Conestoga quartet of Delaney Burns, Audrey Laganelli, Naomi Furman and Lily Robinson placed third in the girls 400 free relay (3:27.60), and the foursome of Keira Haas, Naomi Furman, Delaney Burns and Lily Robinson finished seventh in the girls 200 medley relay (1:45.98).
In girls diving, Conestoga’s Avery Hillier finished third (423.30) and Grace Gallagher was fifth (385.80). Conestoga’s Delaney Burns finished 13th in the girls 200 IM (1:53.53) and was first in the B final for the girls 500 free (4:55.75).
For the West Chester Henderson girls, senior Krista Marlin finished first in the girls 200 free (1:46.92) and fourth in the girls 500 free (4:52.08), and earned All-American Honors with her performances in both events. Her 1:46.92 clocking in the girls 200 free is one of the fastest times in PIAA history.
The Henderson quartet of Katie Simpson, Rylee Kelly, Shannon Gamble and Krista Marlin placed second in both the girls 200 free relay (1:34.37) and the girls 400 free relay (3:26.41), earning All-American honors in both events and re-setting their personal records in both relays.
Henderson senior Katie Simpson finished 13th in the girls 50 free (24.16) and 11th in the girls 100 free (51.99), and Rylee Kelly was second in the B final of the girls 500 free.
“Our girls had a great meet and it was the culmination of a lot of hard work,” said Henderson swim coach Jeff Bott. “They should all be very proud. This group of swimmers performed at an elite level, not only at this meet but throughout the entire postseason. To have a group which reset school records and also earned All-American status is special. The kids earned it and deserve all the credit.”
For the Downingtown East girls, the Cougar foursome of Victoria Maki, Finley Mulhern, Cady Kiebort and Alexa Fulton finished 11th in the girls 200 medley relay (1:47.11). The D-East quartet of Alexa Fulton, Cady Kiebort, Finley Mulhern and Victoria Maki was 11th in the girls 200 free relay (1:38.58).
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In the boys’ 3A meet, Conestoga finished fifth in the team standings. Conestoga sophomore Jake Wang led the way for the Pioneers, finishing first in the boys 100 breast (54.95) and placing third in the boys 200 IM (1:50.20).
Gary Wang was fifth in the boys 100 back (50.57) and second in the B final of the boys 100 fly (50.30).
The Pioneers quartet of Gary Wang, Jake Wang, John Yeniay and Stephen Graver finished first in the boys 200 medley relay (1:32.53), and the quartet of Jake Wang, John Yeniay, Brock Whitaker and Stephen Graver placed fourth in the boys 400 free relay (3:07.22).
John Yeniay was seventh in the boys 100 fly (50.86), and James Manion was seventh in the B final of the boys 200 IM (1:55.55).
“We had a bit of a roller coaster start Wednesday,” said Conestoga boys swimming coach Mark Tirone. “We had a great start in prelims, but then just before finals, Raymond Welgosh, one of our senior captains, had to scratch out of the meet due to illness. The boys were able to rally and stepped up with some great swims. It was a great team effort and their commitment to hard work paid off, as they all had personal best times.”
Kennett senior Liam Simmons finished third in the boys 100 back with a school record time of 49.38 and placed 15th in the boys 100 free (47.07).
“Liam has the heart of a lion and is the most humble high school athlete of his caliber that I have ever worked with,” said Kennett swim coach Cindy Millison. “We’re so proud to have him representing Kennett.”
Oxford junior Alex Karahalis finished fourth in the boys 100 fly (49.34) and fifth in the boys 100 breast (56.41).
The Oxford boys 200 medley relay of Noah Topmiller, Ryan Topmiller, Alex Karahalis, and Andrew Hinkley did not qualify for the finals, but Chrissy Reinard praised the Hornets’ grit and perseverance..
“To see Alex medal at districts and States in both his individual events is amazing, and I’m super proud of our swimmers – because we are such a small team (only nine boys and six girls) our swimmers have very little turnaround time and swim whatever events they are needed in, not necessarily what they enjoy. They always have a team first mentality.
“So to watch Ryan, Alex, Noah, and AJ swim their butts off for each other at districts in the IM relay to earn them a spot at States was fantastic and well deserved. That is a true testament to their grit, perseverance, and hard work.”
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In other highlights at the PIAA 3A swimming and diving championships:
Unionville sophomore Izzy Iwasyk finished third in the girls 50 free (23.17) and tied for fifth place in the girls 100 free (50.91), and the Longhorn quartet of Amelia Miller, Lauren Dobie, Emily Albans and Izzy Iwasyk placed 15th in the girls 400 free relay (3:35.67) after being seeded 25th.
Unionville head coach Mike Mangan said, “I was proud of the effort our girls put forth . They are truly committed and spend countless hours trying to better themselves. Izzy Iwasyk and Emily Albans were true leaders on the team and they were joined in outstanding improvements for our relay teams in both the 200 medley relay and 400 free relays.”
West Chester Rustin junior Flynn Truskett finished sixth in the girls 100 fly (57.06) and was first in the B final in the girls 200 IM (2:05.96), and Rustin junior Lily Turco was 12th in the girls 100 fly (57.83).
West Chester Henderson senior Dylan Smolders was first in the B final of the boys 200 IM (1:53.30) and third in the B final of the boys 500 free (4:34.83).
West Chester East sophomore Taiylor Tegler finished first in the B final of the girls 100 breast (1:04.25), in her first year at States.
NOTES: Avon Grove had no swimmers make the finals, but Red Devil coach Kelly Burk noted that Kaitlyn Burk and Nate Kidder were the fastest freshmen in their respective event – the girls and boys 200 IM.
