Ridley >> The Conestoga High School boys and girls swimming teams, who went through the dual meet season undefeated in the Central League, gave a top-grade performance at the Central League Meet at Ridley High School Feb. 9-10.
The Pioneer boys (9-0 overall, 6-0 league) finished in first place with 602 team points, followed by Haverford (405), Ridley (297) and Springfield (246) and Radnor (230). The Conestoga girls won the meet and the league title for the ninth year in a row, with 541.5 team points, followed by Lower Merion (426.5), Radnor (272) and Garnet Valley (218).
The Conestoga boys earned six first-place finishes and set a number of pool records.
Conestoga senior Jake Wang, the 2022-23 Daily Local News Boys Swimmer of the Year, won two individual events (200 yard IM and 100 yard breaststroke), and set pool and meet records in the 100 breast (53.43). He also was the leadoff swimmer for two freestyle relays that set pool and meet records.
Pioneer senior Can Yeniay won two individual events (200 yard freestyle and 500 yard freestyle) and was part of two freestyle relays that set pool and meet records.
In the boys 200 yard freestyle relay, the quartet of Wang, senior Brock Whitaker, freshman Liam Haas and Yeniay finished first in the 200 yard freestyle relay with a pool record time of 1:23.53. Wang got the foursome off to a fantastic start with a 19.97 split.
“It’s not really my best time but it’s pretty close,” said Wang. “It was really a fun swim, as I got to race Shane Eckler.”
Eckler, a Ridley senior who won the 50 yard freestyle with a pool record and meet record time of 20.08 Feb. 9, led off the 200 free relay with a 20.07 clocking.
Wang, the PIAA defending champion in the boys 200 yard IM, posted a winning time of 1:50.72 in the 200 IM Feb. 9; and Yeniay set a pool record with a season-best 1:38.84 in the 200 free..
“I didn’t feel great today, but I swam a better time than I did at States last year, so now I feel great,” said Yeniay after the race. He clocked 1:38.87 for a second-place finish at States in the 200 free last winter.
Whitaker, who finished second in the 100 yard butterfly (49.52) and 100 yard freestyle (45.33), said, “The highlight for me (Feb. 9) was the 200 free relay, where we swam and won as a team. Without Jake’s 19.97, we wouldn’t have been able to break the pool record.”
Conestoga also finished first in the boys 400 yard freestyle relay with a quartet of Wang, Whitaker, sophomore David Ivory and Yeniay. They posted a time of 3:04.93, setting both a pool and meet record.
In the boys 200 yard medley relay, the Conestoga quartet of junior James Oken, junior Stanley Cui, junior Hutch Wood and Haas finished third (1:39.23) and the Pioneer foursome of junior Aru Nayak, freshman Austin Zhang, senior Weston Clark and junior Justin Cuevas Reigo de Dios placed fifth (1:41.98).
In the boys 200 free for Conestoga, sophomore William Galef finished fifth (1:50.60), freshman Alex Muldowney placed eighth (1:52.82), junior Brandon Bacani was 11th (1:54.24) and sophomore Bradley Zhang 12th (1:54.47).
In the boys 200 IM, the Pioneers’ Henry Kogan finished fourth (1:59.38), David Ivory was sixth (2:00.28), freshman Jack Toscano eighth (2:05.45) and Zhang ninth (22:05.59).
In the boys 50 free, Haas finished fourth (21:29) and Cuevas Riego de Dios was seventh (21.89), Cui 10th (22.50) and Nayak 13th (20.03).
In the boys 100 fly, Wood placed fourth (52.90), sophomore Ivan Yan eighth (54.75), junior Harrison Wood ninth (54.97) and Clark 10th (55.07).
In the boys 200 free relay, the quartet of Ivory, Cui, Zhang and Cuevas Riego de Dios placed fourth (1:30.56).
In the boys 100 free, Whitaker finished second (45.33), Haas fourth (48.17), Hutch Wood fifth (48.25), Cuevas Riego de Dios eighth (49.11), James Oken 10th (50.02), Harrison Wood 13th (51.19) and Zhang 15th (51.41).
In the boys 500 free, Kogan was fourth (4:51.80), Muldowney sixth (5:00.53), freshman Patrick Barry 11th (5:14.49) and Bacani 15th (5:20.16).
In the boys 100 yard backstroke, Oken was sixth (54.87), Galef seventh (54.93), Alexander Sung 11th (55.75) and Nayak 12th (56.26).
In the 100 breast, Cui was fourth (59.84), Ivory seventh (1:00.92), Zhang tied for eighth (1:01.15) and Yan was 12th (1:03.17).
In the 400 free relay, the Conestoga quartet of Hutch Wood, Kogan, Zhang and Galef finished fifth (3:20.88).
Meanwhile, the Conestoga girls squad (12-1 overall, 7-0 league) were helped by the first-place finish by junior Avery Hillier in diving Feb. 7, as she posted a point total of 518.90, which is a Conestoga, pool (Ridley) and Central League record.
“I felt like I had to stay focused but also have fun, to be less stressed out about what was happening,” said Hillier. “A few teammates came (to the diving meet) in support, and my back dive and reverse dive were my two best dives that day.”
Hillier also contributed in the swimming events Feb. 9, leading off for the Pioneers’ third-place 200 free relay team (1:40.08) with a 24.91 split and finishing fifth in the 50 free (24.46).
“Avery’s really a gifted athlete, and she’s fun to be around,” said Conestoga girls swimming head coach Rob Kirkby.
“I like swimming with my teammates, and we were having fun,” said a smiling Hillier, who has committed to Duke University for diving. “I like supporting the team and being there for them, and we cheer each other on.”
Conestoga diving coach Megan Hillier said, “This (swimming) is like a new discovery for Avery. It’s great to see her succeed in something she doesn’t normally do, and she (really) feels part of the entire team when she swims.”
Pioneer senior Sarah Fox finished first in the 500 yard freestyle (5:11.13), Mackenzie Nagel was third (5:11.80) and Olivia Tudge fourth (5:14.04).
Hadar Miller won the 100 yard breaststroke (1:03.58) and teammate Reilly Dolan was third (1:06.18).
In the 200 medley relay, the Conestoga quartet of sophomore Maddie Fox, junior Hadar Miller, senior Jena Nowoswiat and freshman Paige Hedlund placed second (1:47.78) and the Pioneer foursome of senior Carys Collin, sophomore Reilly Dolan, freshman Joyce Chen and freshman Ashley Du finished sixth (1:52.66).
Conestoga finished 2-3-4 in the girls 200 free, with senior Sarah Fox (1:56.77), sophomore Olivia Tudge (1:57.25) and senior Mackenzie Nagel (1:57.59). Junior Juliana Yao finished 12th (2:02.12).
In the girls 200 IM, Conestoga finished 2-3 with Miller (2:09.61) and Nowoswiat (2:10.21). Dolan was seventh (2:13.28) and Chen placed eighth (2:15.84).
In the girls 50 free, Hedlund was ninth (25.28), Collin was 11th (25.52) and Du 12th (25.57).
Conestoga placed 2-3 in the girls 100 fly, with Maddie Fox (57.24) and Jena Nowoswiat (57.58). Maddie Fox placed fifth in the 100 back (58.80).
In the girls 200 free relay, the quartet of Hillier, Tudge, Sarah Fox and Nagel placed third (1:40.08), while the foursome of Yao, Du, Collin and Chen finished sixth (1:42.56).
In the girls 400 free relay, the quartet of Hedlund, Sarah Fox, Nagel and Maddie Fox placed second (3:36.61), while the foursome of Nowoswiat, Tudge, Yao and Miller finished third (3:40.82).
Kirkby said, “I’m really proud of all the girls, they all swam so well. Sometimes in dual meets the girls get kind of broken-down and tired, and even without being rested this (Central League Meet) is such a great team event; (the swimmers) come here and do things they do things that they think they couldn’t do.”
