Ches-Mont swimmers shine at 5th Annual Scott Elliott Invitational

West Chester >> A variety of swimmers, both decorated upperclassmen and promising freshmen, were victorious at the 5th Annual Scott Elliott Ches-Mont Invitational Saturday, which included nearly all of the league’s top swimmers in a one-day competition in front of a good-sized crowd at West Chester University’s Graham Natatorium.
Elliott, who died in 2017, was an assistant swimming coach at West Chester University for two decades. He also was head coach of Golden Ram Aquatics, where he developed a number of top age-group swimmers, including a junior national champion in 2010.
“This meet is in memory of Scott Elliott, who was a great friend to a lot of us,” said West Chester Henderson swimming head coach Jeff Bott. “Many of the kids in this meet remember Scott, and were coached by him. The adrenaline kicks in for these swimmers, for sure, today.”
West Chester Henderson junior Vedant Bedekar, who anchored the Warriors’ first-place boys 200 free relay and 400 free relay teams, said, “Since this meet is the last meet of the season for so many of our teammates here at Henderson, the energy is great here. There’s so much cheering going on, and so many people run best times – it’s great to see so many happy (swimmers) here. I love the team dynamic here — our team is planning to go to Rams Diner after this meet (smiles).”
Downingtown East senior Alexa Fulton, the 2021-22 Daily Local News Swimmer of the Year, won the girls 200 IM (2:06.22), finished second in the girls 100 breast (1:09.11) and anchored the Cougars’ first-place girls 200 free relay team.
“What Alexa likes to do at this meet is swim events that she will not be swimming at Districts two weeks from now,” said D-East girls head coach Sean Wyatt. “It’s good mind-wise to take a break (from her Districts events) for just a little bit. She’s been really strong in the 200 IM all season, so I encouraged her to swim that today, and she really did a good job.”
Several freshmen won events at Saturday’s meet, including Downingtown West’s Elizabeth McNamara, who finished first in the 200 free (1:57.55).
“This is a really great meet with a lot of energy and a lot of great competitors,” said McNamara. “I was really happy to win today.”
West Chester Rustin senior Flynn Truskett, who will be swimming for William & Mary next winter, won the girls 100 free with a personal-best 51.81.
“The adrenaline was flowing, and I really wanted to win today and get my best time,” said a smiling Truskett, who finished second to Fulton in the girls 200 IM (2:09.70).
Coatesville freshman Sarah McGann was one of the standout 9th-graders Saturday, finishing first in the girls 100 fly with a season-best 58.38 and placing second in the girls 500 free (5:11.12).
“It means a lot to me to win here, it’s exciting, and it was one of my goals,” said McGann.
Wyatt noted, “One of our freshman, Lucille Obenski, got a district consideration time today in the 100 back (1:03.31, eighth place). She’s been flirting with that line (1:03.60) and her getting that was huge today. She’s put in a lot of hard work.”
West Chester Rustin head coach Kiera Callahan said, “I think the adrenalin’s high for these kids today; they’re swimming the events that they’re really strong in, and one of the beauties of swimming is that energy is contagious. One of our freshmen, Lily Greenwood, got the district consideration time in the 100 back (1:01.85, third place) today — she had been kind of just right above (the time) for a while, and I assume the adrenaline was helpful for her (smiles).”
Another freshman, West Chester Henderson’s Sean Dillon, won the boys 200 free (1:49.15) and 500 free (5:03.23). Kennett freshman Alexandra Scime won the girls 500 free (5:05.54).
Many of Saturday’s events were won by seasoned upperclassmen, too. Unionville junior Izzy Iwasyk, who finished third in the 50 free at States last winter, won the girls 50 free Saturday with a clocking of 24.22.
Other first-place individual finishers included West Chester Henderson sophomore Edward Stoltz in the boys 50 free (21.36) and 100 back (52.14); Great Valley’s Patrick Li in the boys 100 fly (54.92); West Chester East’s Sam Heiland in the girls 100 back (1:00.00); Downingtown East’s Gabe Carroll in the boys 100 free (48.32); Henderson sophomore Finn Lukens in the boys 100 breast (59.55); Downingtown East’s Sam Sperling in the boys 200 IM (2:02.12); and Henderson sophomore Paige Fisher in the girls 100 breast (1:07.94).
The Henderson quartet of Stoltz, Dillon, Lukens and Bedekar won the boys 200 free relay (1:28.96) and the 400 free relay (3:17.40). The Downingtown East foursome of Sam Sperling, Matt DiAddezio, George Liu and Connor Kiebort won the boys 200 medley relay (1:40.46).
Three entirely different teams won the girls relays. For Unionville, Iwasyk, Delaney Harlan, Lauren Dobie and Amelia Miller won the 200 medley relay (1:51.95); the Downingtown East quartet of Cady Kiebort, Sydney Greene, Victoria Maki and Fulton won the 200 free relay (1:40.16); and the Henderson foursome of Meghan Denney, Shannon Gamble, Natalie Krauss and Fisher won the 400 free relay (3:40.23).

Scott Elliott Ches-Mont Invitational girls swimming championships
Girls 200 medley relay: Unionville (Izzy Iwasyk, Delaney Harlan, Lauren Dobie, Amelia Miller) 1:51.95
Girls 200 free: Elizabeth McNamara, DTW, 1:57.55
Girls 200 IM: Alexa Fulton, DTE, 2:06.22
Girls 50 free: Izzy Iwasyk, UN, 24.22
Girls 100 fly: Sarah McGann, CO, 58.38
Girls 200 free relay: Downingtown East Cady Kiebort, Sydney Greene, Victoria Maki, Alexa Fulton) 1:40.16
Girls 100 free: Flynn Truskett, WCR, 51.81
Girls 500 free: Alexandra Scime, KEN, 5:05.54
Girls 100 back: Sam Heiland, WCE, 1:00.00
Girls 100 breast: Paige Fisher, WCH, 1:07.94
Girls 400 free relay: West Chester Henderson (Meghan Denney, Shannon Gamble, Natalie Krauss, Paige Fisher) 3:40.23

Scott Elliott Ches-Mont Invitational boys swimming championships
Boys 200 medley relay: Downingtown East (Sam Sperling, Matt DiAddezio, George Liu, Connor Kiebort) 1:40.46.
Boys 200 free: Sean Dillon, WCH, 1:49.15
Boys 200 IM: Sam Sperling, DTE, 2:02.12
Boys 50 free: Edward Stoltz, WCH, 21.36
Boys 100 fly: Patrick Li, GRV, 54.92
Boys 200 free relay: West Chester Henderson (Edward Stoltz, Sean Dillon, Finn Lukens, Vedant Bedekar) 1:28.96
Boys 100 free: Gabe Carroll, DTE, 48.32
Boys 500 free: Sean Dillon, WCH, 5:03.23
Boys 100 back: Edward Stoltz, WCH, 52.14
Boys 100 breast: Finn Lukens, WCH, 59.55
Boys 400 free relay: West Chester Henderson quartet (Edward Stoltz, Sean Dillon, Finn Lukens, Vedant Bedekar) 3:17.40