Conestoga’s depth proves decisive on first day of Central League swim championships
Ridley >> The Conestoga High School boys and girls swimming/diving teams, both aiming for their ninth consecutive Central League Championships title, relied on their depth to hold a comfortable first-place lead after the first day of the Central League meet at Ridley High School Friday.
The Pioneer girls compiled 295 points, well ahead of second-place Radnor (171) and third-place Haverford (165). The Conestoga boys were in first place with 259 points, ahead of second-place Haverford (199.5) and third-place Springfield (163).
“Our team depth really buoys us along in this meet,” said Conestoga girls head coach Rob Kirkby. “We have some really top-notch performers, but all the way along the meet we’ve had several Conestoga girls on the (awards) podium, and they’re getting best (personal) times. This is such a good meet for us, and a real confidence-builder as we go into Districts. And it gives everyone on our team an opportunity, even the wide-eyed freshmen who are new to this meet – they almost always swim their best times (here), and that’s fun to see.”
Leading the way for the Conestoga girls were seniors Audrey Laganelli and Lily Robinson. Laganelli, who will be swimming for the U.S. Air Force Academy next winter, won the 200 free, breaking her own Ridley pool record at Centrals last year (1:51.56) with a clocking of 1:51.09. Robinson, who will be swimming for Brown University next winter, won the 50 free (23.52).
Both Robinson and Laganelli were part of the Pioneers’ first-place 200 free relay team, which posted a Ridley pool record 1:37.59. Two other seniors, Keira Haas and Ayala Miller were part of the winning quartet.
“Winning the 200 free relay with my friends was definitely the highlight of the day for me,” said Laganelli, who anchored the relay. “We were seeded second, and when we were behind the blocks for the race, we were really excited, dancing and having fun. We were losing by a little when I dove in, and I was thinking, ‘I don’t want to let my friends down,’ and I swam as fast as I could.”
Laganelli also broke her own Ridley pool record from last year’s Central League meet in winning the 200 free.
“I’m really happy that I broke the record again,” said Laganelli. “Last year I wasn’t expecting to go that fast; and today, I wasn’t expecting to go that fast, either. I was sick earlier this week, coughing a lot, and I had to take my mind off that and focus on this race.”
Robinson, who had been sidelined for a while last month with a back injury, posted a winning time of 23.52 Friday. Last year at the Central meet, she set a meet record of 23.07.
“It was tough taking time off last month, but I wanted to make sure I was healthy for the post-season meets,” said Robinson. “I’ve been building my strength up again; it’s definitely been a challenge, but a good one. My teammates have really been there for me, and it’s been a lot of fun to get back in, and to get back to where I was before. It was nice to get back to the 23s (second mark) today.”
The girls 200 medley relay team of Haas, senior Naomi Furman, junior Jena Nowoswiat and Ayala Miller finished a close second (1:47.95). Furman and Nowoswiat finished 4-5 in the 200 IM, and Nowoswiat placed third in the 100 fly (56.80), with Maddie Fox fourth.
“Jena had a great time in the 100 fly, and (sophomore) Hadar Miller, who has been injured, did a great job in the 200 IM,” said Kirkby.
Miller, who finished eighth, shaved more than five seconds off her seed time in the 200 IM Friday.
On Wednesday, Conestoga sophomore Avery Hillier easily won the Central League diving championship, amassing 474.55 points, well ahead of the second-place finisher, Ridley senior Kacey Lenz (389.60).
For the Conestoga boys on Friday, the quartet of Can Yeniay, Jake Wang, Brock Whitaker and Andrew Zhang won the 200 medley relay with a meet record 1:33.22, breaking the mark set by the Pioneers last winter (1:34.01). Yeniay won the boys 200 free with a Ridley pool record 1:40.10, and Wang won the boys 200 IM with a meet record 1:49.59.
Conestoga boys head coach Mark Tirone said, “As a team, we’re all swimming well – I hope it’s contagious and continues tomorrow (smiles). It’s pretty much been a team effort – you’ve got Cam, you’ve got Jake, you’ve got Brock Whitaker, who finished second in the 100 fly (50.12), Andrew Zhang had a phenomenal 200 free (fourth place, 1:45.76), and some of our younger swimmers were swimming their season-best times. We’ve had a lot of guys dropping down into the district consideration times.”
A couple of standout freshmen performances that Tirone mentioned were Bradley Zhang in the 200 free (10th place, 1:51.34) and Henry Kogan in the 200 IM (ninth place, 2:06.52).
NOTES: Other standouts in the Central League girls meet Friday included Haverford senior Katya Eruslanova, who set a meet record in the 200 IM (2:02.37); and Harriton senior Kate Levensten, who set a Ridley pool Central meet record in winning the 100 fly (55.19). Next winter, Levensten will swim for the University of Pennsylvania.
Other standouts in the Central League boys meet Friday included Ridley junior Shane Eckler, who set a meet record in winning the 50 free (20.24); Springfield junior Jacob Johnson, who set a Ridley pool record in winning the 100 fly (49.35); and the Springfield quartet of Alex Chan, Johnson, Luke Kennedy and Jake Kennedy, who won the 200 free relay with a meet record 1:24.22.
Central League girls swimming championships (Day 1)
Conestoga 295, Radnor 171, Haverford 165, Springfield 147, Garnet Valley 131, Harriton 113, Ridley 109, Lower Merion 104, Strath Haven 72, Penncrest 47, Upper Darby 23, Marple Newtown 18
Girls 200 medley relay: Radnor (Marina Wang, Skyler Semisch, Anne Lindgren, Sophia Mlodzienski) 1:47.68
Girls 200 free: Audrey Laganelli, CON, 1:51.09
Girls 200 IM: Katya Eruslanova, HAV, 2:02.37
Girls 50 free: Lily Robinson, CON, 23.52
Girls 100 fly: Kate Levensten, HAR, 55.19
Girls 200 free relay: Conestoga (Keira Haas, Lily Robinson, Ayala Miller, Audrey Laganelli) 1:37.59
Central League boys swimming championships (Day 1)
Conestoga 259, Haverford 199.5, Springfield 163, Ridley 160, Radnor 108, Upper Darby 107, Lower Merion 98, Marple Newtown 81.5, Harriton 79, Penncrest 69, Strath Haven 43, Garnet Valley 18
Boys 200 medley relay: Conestoga (Can Yeniay, Jake Wang, Brock Whitaker, Andrew Zhang) 1:33.22
Boys 200 free: Can Yeniay, CON, 1:40.10
Boys 200 IM: Jake Wang, CON, 1:49.59
Boys 50 free: Shane Eckler, RID, 20.24
Boys 100 fly: Jacob Johnson, SPR, 49.35
Boys 200 free relay: Springfield (Alex Chan, Jacob Johnson, Luke Kennedy, Jake Kennedy) 1:24.22
