Downingtown East swimmers persevere for win at Coatesville

CALN >> Downingtown East’s swimmers bounced back from a grueling weekend of activity to post a couple of solid victories Wednesday afternoon at Coatesville High School.
The D-East boys (6-0) earned an 81-34 win against host Coatesville, while the girls (5-1) scored a 116-67 victory.
“We had a lot of swimmers who swam a lot this past weekend, so they’re kind of tired and we knew the times would be a little slower today,” said D-East girls coach Sean Wyatt.
Last weekend, some of the Cougars competed at YMCA Winterfest in Maryland, where they swam for four consecutive days. In addition, Alexa Fulton, the Daily Local News 2022 All-Area Girls Swimmer of the Year, was at the TYR Pro Swim Series for USA Swimming in Knoxville, Tenn. last weekend.
One of the highlights for the Cougars was Fulton setting a pool record in the 200 Individual Medley with a district consideration time of 2:07.39. A versatile performer, Fulton won a gold medal at states in both the 50 free and 100 free.
Wyatt said, “Today was a different kind of meet because we kind of mixed the girls around, got them in different swims. We had a lot of first-time swimmers in certain events, and for swimming out of their element, they did a great job today.”
Also for D-East, the quartet of Victoria Maki, Cady Kiebort, Ellie Reese and Fulton posted a district consideration time of 3:47.43 in winning the 400 free relay. Last winter, the Cougars did not make the district cut in the 400 relay.
Maki finished first in two individual events — the 50 free (25.97) and 100 free (56.92).
Other first-place finishers for were the 200 medley relay quartet of Reya Petrick, Finley Mulhern, Cady Kiebort and Fulton (1:56.19), Rachel Laraio in 1 meter diving (district consideration 249.80), Abby O’Donnell in the 500 free (6:09.10), and the strong-finishing 200 free relay foursome of Maki, Sydney Greene, Reese and Fulton (1:44.47).
Wyatt mentioned two Cougars who were competing in the girls 500 free for the first time Wednesday and broke their trial time – Emma Springer (who finished second) and Ella Hagelauer (placed fourth). Wyatt also pointed out that Eva Wells did well in the 100 breast (fourth place, 1:29.72).
“I saw a lot of good stuff from our younger swimmers today that will help us out,” said Wyatt.
The Coatesville girls had several standouts. Freshman Sarah McGann won the 100 fly with a district consideration time of 1:01.19 and finished first in the 200 free (2:04.06). Junior Macey Speakman won the 100 breast with a district consideration time of 1:11.25, and Hailey Persch won the 100 back (1:06.81). Junior Anna Hillman finished second in both the 50 free (27.10) and 100 free (59.27).
“We’re a small team – 14 girls and seven boys – but we’re mighty,” said Coatesville head coach Dustin Gibb. “This is a rebuilding year, and next year, we can add a little more depth.”
Both the Coatesville girls and boys teams currently have a 1-4 record.
In the boys meet, D-East’s Gabe Carroll posted a district consideration time of 22.65 in winning the 50 free, and the 200 medley relay team of Jack Thompson, Matt DiAddezio, George Liu and Carroll recorded a district consideration time (1:43.99) while finishing first. Carroll also posted an exhibition time of 1:05.75 in the 100 breast (district consideration time is 1:06.00).
Other first-place finishers for were freshman Sam Sperling in the 200 free (1:56.00), Liu in the 200IM (2:22.30), Niall Richards in 1 meter diving, Luke Sperling in the 100 fly (1:04.71) and Thompson in the 100 free (53.53).
DiAddezio posted an exhibition time of 5:44.37 in the 500 free, and the foursome of Carroll, Liu, Connor Kiebort and DiAddezio posted an exhibition time of 1:35.59 in the 200 free relay (1:35.59).
D-East boys coach Kirsten Snyder said, “I think our team is continuing to develop their camaraderie together, so it’s nice to see them come together as a team, knowing that they swim together at the Y level as well. I’m proud of them for dropping time today – we’re coming off a three-day weekend, and some of our kids were down in Maryland (at the Winterfest), so some of them are a little bit swum out at this point in time (laughs), but they’re pushing through, and we’re looking forward to facing Henderson next week (Jan. 27).”
For the Coatesville boys, Ryan Schering won the 100 back (1:05.63). Joseph Wayne was triumphant in the 100 breast, and the 200 free relay team of Wayne, James Layden, Schnering and Joseph Trionfetti picked up first-place points.