Downingtown East boys defeat Henderson in battle of undefeated swim teams

Uwchlan >> In a battle of undefeated boys swimming squads, host Downingtown East defeated West Chester Henderson, 111-72, on the Cougars’ Senior Day Friday at the Lionville YMCA.

The win improves the Cougars’ record to 7-0, while the Warriors fall to 4-1. In the girls meet, Downingtown East (6-1) earned a close 99-87 victory against Henderson (2-3).

“I’m really, really proud of the way our boys stepped up today,” said Downingtown East boys head coach Kirsten Snyder. “We have a lot of respect for Henderson, they’re a strong program. We knew this meet was going to be tough, we’ve been thinking a lot about it and working on the small things. This was an all-around fantasic meet, they’re a great group of kids, and I’m blessed to be able to coach them, all 16 of them (today). I could not be prouder (smiles).”

Cougar senior George Liu and D-East junior Gabe Carroll each won two individual events, posting district consideration times in both – Liu in the 100 fly (51.83) and 50 free (23.11), Carroll in the 200 free (1:47.76) and 100 free (47.78).

In the boys 200 IM, the Cougars took the top two spots, both with district consideration times — freshman Sam Sperling (2:05.01) and Matt DiAddezio (2:07.24). Sperling also won the boys 100 back with a district consideration time of 55.13.

Snyder said, “So many of our swimmers dropped time today. One of our seniors, Andrew Detwiler, dropped about 12 seconds in his 500 free today. Another senior, Leon Dang, swam his best-ever time in the 100 breast (fourth place, 1:07.85). Freshman Joseph Zeng swam the 100 free and dropped time (fifth place, 54.53) then went right to the 500 free and dropped time there (fourth, 5:35.05). Luke Sperling dropped time in the 200 free for his best time this year (1:52.98, third place).”

The D-East boys coach also pointed out that the first-place 200 medley relay team of Sam Sperling, DiAddezio, Liu and Jack Thompson improved its district consideration time (1:40.36).

The Cougar boys also finished first in the 200 free relay, with a quartet of Carroll, DiAddezio, Connor Kiebort and Liu posting a district consideration time of 1:31.37. In the boys 100 breast DiAddezio (1:03.53, second place) and Thompson (1:04.68, third) posted district consideration times.

In the boys 400 free relay, the D-East quartet of Sam Sperling, Luke Sperling, Thompson and Carroll finished first (3:27.44).

For the Henderson boys, Finn Lukens won the 100 breast with a district consideration time of 1:00.03 and posted a district consideration time of 50.31 while placing second in the 100 free. Sean Dillon won the 500 free (5:09.70) and George Graham won the 1 meter diving (197.40). Vedant Bedekar posted district consideration times in two second-place finishes – 200 free (1:51.89) and 100 back (55.60).

“This was a really good, tight, close meet – Downingtown East swam unbelievably well, and we also had some excellent performances,” said Henderson swim head coach Jeff Bott. “Finn Lukens improved his district consideration cuts in the 100 breast and the 100 free. Across the board, both boys and girls, we had a lot of improved times today.”

In the girls meet, Downingtown East seniors Alexa Fulton and Victoria Maki led the way for the Cougars, each winning two individual events. Fulton won the 100 free with a district consideration time of 51.11 and won the 100 breast with a district consideration time of 1:09.09. Maki won the 200IM (2:21.09) and finished first in the 100 back with a district consideration time of 1:01.93.

D-East girls head coach Sean Wyatt said, “As usual, Alexa had a great meet – she never really swims the breaststroke, so that was a great performance by her (in the 100 breast) today. We’ve been trying to get her into different events – trying to plug and place – because we know she’s good, and we want to see what else she has.

“Victoria had a great meet, as always. She had surgery this past off-season on her knee – she had a kneecap issue – and she hadn’t swam the 200 IM since that surgery. So today was a big meet for her, in the 200 IM — she did really, really well.”

The Cougar quartet of Maki, Finley Mulhern, Cady Kiebort and Fulton won the 200 medley relay with a district consideration time of 1:51.87, and the D-East foursome of Kiebort, Maki, Ellie Reese and Fulton won the 200 free relay with a district consideration time of 1:42.43. Rachel Laraio won the 1 meter diving with a district consideration total of 218.80 and Kiebort won the 100 fly with a district consideration time of 1:01.11.

D-East’s Eva Wells helped the Cougars gain valuable points in all three relays Friday – she was part of D-East foursomes that placed third in the 200 medley relay, third in the 200 free relay and fourth in the 400 free relay.

“Eva has been doing phenomenal for us in the relays – she’s been dropping time every single meet,” said Wyatt.

Wyatt also praised D-East senior Abby O’Donnell, who dropped time in her medley butterfly and dropped seven seconds in her 500 free while finishing fifth. The D-East coach also praised freshman Hayley Heckler, who dropped seven seconds in her 500 free (5:50.27, third place) and five seconds in her 200 free (2:11.60, third place), and junior Finley Mulhern, who dropped time in every event she entered Friday.

“Hailey’s been working really hard every day,” said Wyatt. “During the winter break, she was the only swimmer that actually practiced with Downingtown West, because we didn’t have practice (then) – we share a pool with West, and normally we share lanes, but over the break, we didn’t practice and West did – and a couple of our swimmers went to West’s practices, and she was one of them – she went every single day. She’s been showing real dedication, and it’s really paying off on the clock.”

Wyatt, whose team has lost only one meet this winter (to Avon Grove), said, “This team has great camaraderie – they’ve been unbelievably loud, cheering, and the officials compliment us all the time, so that’s what we pride ourselves on, how passionate we are, how bonded we are as a team. I don’t think I’ve heard a louder team than us this year.”

For the Henderson girls, junior Meghan Denney won the 500 free with a district consideration time of 5:19.92 and finished first in the 200 free with a district consideration time of 2:00.00. Henderson’s Shannon Gamble won the 50 free (25.87), and the Warriors 400 free relay team of Denney, Gabby Daltry, Guidotti and Gamble finished first (3:56.33).

Bott said, “Overall, our swimmers today were spirited and motivated one another. Meghan Denney had some great swims, and we had a great swim from Hannah Guidotti in the 500 free (second place, 5:45.62).”

NOTES: Downingtown East honored its seniors Friday after the diving event – those honored included Allison Aceto, Gabby Aceto, Dang, Detwiler, Fulton, Kate Gersbach, Eloise Hagelauer, Cady Kiebort, Liu, Maki, O’Donnell and Luke Sperling.

 

Downingtown East (boys) 111, WC Henderson 72

200 Medley Relay: Downingtown East (Sam Sperling, Matt DiAddezio, George Liu, Jack Thompson), 1:40.36

200 Free: Gabe Carroll, DTE, 1:47.76

200 IM: Sam Sperling, DTE, 2:05.01

50 Free: George Liu, DTE, 23.11

1 Meter Diving: George Graham, WCH, 197.40

100 Fly: George Liu, DTE, 51.83

100 Free: Gabe Carroll, DTE, 47.78

500 Free: Sean Dillon, WCH, 5:09.70

200 Free Relay: Downingtown East (Gabe Carroll, Matt DiAddezio, Connor Kiebort, George Liu), 1:31.37

100 Back: Sam Sperling, DTE, 55.13

100 Breast: Finn Lukens, WCH, 1:00.03

400 Free Relay: Downingtown East (Sam Sperling, Luke Sperling, Jack Thompson, Gabe Carroll), 3:27.44

 

Downingtown East (girls) 99, WC Henderson 87

200 Medley Relay: Downingtown East (Victoria Maki, Finley Mulhern, Cady Kiebort, Alexa Fulton), 1:51.87

200 Free: Meghan Denney, WCH, 2:00.00

200 IM: Victoria Maki, DTE, 2:21.09

50 Free: Shannon Gamble, WCH, 25.87

1 Meter Diving: Rachel Laraio, DTE, 218.80

100 Fly: Cady Kiebort, DTE, 1:01.11

100 Free: Alexa Fulton, DTE, 51.11

500 Free: Meghan Denney, WCH, 5:19.92

200 Free Relay: Downingtown East (Cady Kiebort, Victoria Maki, Ellie Reese, Alexa Fulton), 1:42.43

100 Back: Victoria Maki, DTE, 1:01.93

100 Breast: Alexa Fulton, DTE, 1:09.09

400 Free Relay: West Chester Henderson (Meghan Denney, Gabby Daltry, Hannah Guidotti, Shannon Gamble), 3:56.33