Conestoga swimmers remain unbeaten in Central after win at Radnor

Radnor >> The Conestoga High School swimming/diving teams remain undefeated in the Central League after a solid double dual meet victory at Radnor High School’s pool Friday.

The Conestoga boys (5-1 overall, 5-0 Central League) prevailed against Radnor by a score of 98-76, while the Pioneer girls (6-0, 5-0) posted a 102-76 victory over the Raptors.

The competition from both schools was strong – district consideration times were posted in all of the 24 events, with only two exceptions (boys 1-meter diving, boys 400 free relay).

Some of the top girls times for Conestoga included Naomi Furman, who won the 200 IM (2:13.55) and posted an exhibition clocking of 1:05.80 in the 100 breast; Audrey Laganelli, who finished first in the 50 free (24.51); and Jena Nowoswiat, who won the 100 fly (58.98). Furman also helped the Pioneers place first in the 200 medley relay, while Laganelli was part of the first-place 200 free relay team as well as a 400 free relay team that posted an exhibition time of 3:46.44.

Conestoga girls head coach Rob Kirkby said, “Naomi did a great job – she’s such a powerhouse, and in the medley relay she had an amazing split. To post a 1:05 in the 100 breast at this time of the year, that’s really spectacular.

“Audrey did a great job in her events today. She’s such a fast athlete, and she puts it out on the table every time she swims. Jena had an amazing swim in the 100 fly – this time of year, swimming (58.98) in a dual meet, I think that’s amazing.”

Other first-place finishes by Conestoga girls in individual swimming events were Mackenzie Nagel (200 free, 2:02.04), Sarah Fox (100 free, 56.59) and Olivia Tudge (500 free, 5:28.56).

In girls’ 1-meter diving, Conestoga took the top two spots with Avery Hillier (272.40) and Grace Gallagher (254.10), while Radnor’s Nuala Dill placed third (213.80),

The Pioneer girls won the 200 medley relay with a quartet of Keira Haas, Furman, Maddie Fox and Lily Robinson (1:50.71), and placed first in the 200 free relay with a foursome of Robinson, Haas, Ayala Miller and Laganelli (1:41.23). In the girls 400 free relay, the Conestoga quartet of Robinson, Haas, Nagel and Laganelli posted an exhibition time of 3:46.44.

Like the Conestoga girls, the Pioneer boys featured several standout swimmers Friday.

Conestoga boys head coach Mark Tirone said, “Overall, this was a big team effort today. We were able to get some of the other guys, who don’t always get the highlights, to swim in some of their stronger events, and they swam well. And Radnor has a great facility here – we love this pool, it’s a good, fast pool (smiles).”

Individual highlights for the Conestoga boys included victories by Brock Whitaker in the 200 IM (1:58.62), Jake Wang in the 50 free (22.02) and Andrew Zhang in the 500 free (5:06.57). Wang was closely followed by Radnor’s Andrew Yu (second place, 22.11).

“Brock had a great IM,” said Tirone. “Jake had some great competition in the 50, and he had a great swim. Andrew did well in the 500 free.”

Other individual first place finishers for the Conestoga boys were John Yeniay (200 free, 1:45.04), Derek Fung (100 breast, 1:05.13) and David Ivory (1-meter diving).

The Conestoga boys 200 medley relay of Zhang, Stanley Cui, Wang and Justin Cuevas Riego de Dios finished first (1:43.77), and the Pioneer quartet of Wang, Hutch C Wood, Whitaker and Yeniay won the boys 200 free relay (1:29.26).

Radnor, which has competed in five meets this season (all Central League foes), now has a record of 4-1 (boys) and 3-2 (girls).

Radnor’s top individual performers Friday included freshman Alexander Yu, who finished first in boys 100 fly (56.21) and second in the boys 100 breast (1:06.99); Andrew Yu, who was first in the boys 100 free (49.17) and second in the boys 50 free (22.11); Marina Wang, who was first in the girls 100 back (59.72) and second in the girls 50 free (25.41); Anne Lindgren, who was second in the girls 100 fly (59.11); and Raymond Luan, who won the boys 100 back (58.27).

In the girls 200 medley relay, the Radnor quartet of Marina Wang, Skyler Semisch, Lindgren and Sophia Mlodzienski finished second with a district consideration time of 1:51

“We were really excited with our medley relay time,” said Radnor head coach Jeremy Byrne. “And it was a good day for the Yu’s. Marina Wang is our first girl to go under a minute in the 100 back this season. Anne Lindgren had a good swim,going under a minute in the girls 100 fly for the first time this season.

“We definitely left some points out there today, but we were swimming against superior competition. So it was a good chance for our kids to swim against some people who are faster than them – it gives our swimmers some (competitive) experience for the future. We’re happy with how our kids did today, and with our standout swims today.”

NOTES: Conestoga is looking forward to its meet against Haverford High Jan. 27. The Fords (both boys and girls teams), like the Pioneers, are undefeated in the Central League.

“It will be the battle of the unbeatens,” said a smiling Tirone.

 

Conestoga (boys) 98, Radnor 76
200 Medley Relay: Conestoga (Andrew Zhang, Stanley Cui, Jake Wang, Justin Riego de Dios), 1:43.77
200 Free: John Yeniay, CON, 1:45.04
200 IM: Brock Whitaker, CON, 1:58.62
50 Free: Jake Wang, CON, 22.02

1 Meter Diving: David Ivory, CON, 146.30
100 Fly: Alexander Yu, RAD, 56.21
100 Free: Andrew Yu, RAD, 49.17
500 Free: Andrew Zhang, CON, 5:06.57
200 Free Relay: Conestoga (Jake Wang, Hutch C Wood, Brock Whitaker, John Yeniay), 1:29.26
100 Back: Raymond Luan, RAD, 58.27
100 Breast: Derek Fung, CON, 1:05.13
400 Free Relay: Radnor (Phillip Duffy, Colin Mucksavage, Raymond Luan, Luca Jones), 3:37.93

Conestoga (girls) 102, Radnor 76
200 Medley Relay: Conestoga (Keira Haas, Naomi Furman, Maddie Fox, Lily Robinson), 1;50.71
200 Free: Mackenzie Nagel, CON, 2:02.04
200 IM: Naomi Furman, CON, 2:13.55
50 Free: Audrey Laganelli, CON, 24.51

1 Meter Diving: Avery Hillier, CON, 272.40
100 Fly: Jena Nowoswiat, CON, 58.98
100 Free: Sarah Fox, CON, 56.59
500 Free: Olivia Tudge, CON, 5:28.56
200 Free Relay: Conestoga (Lily Robinson, Keira Haas, Ayala Miller, Audrey Laganelli), 1:41.23
100 Back: Marina Wang, RAD, 59.72
100 Breast: Eva Kostic, RAD, 1:16.24
400 Free Relay: Radnor (Campbell Coonley, Holly Bevenour, Emma Burke, Lexi Kim), 4:08.47