It’s been another memorable season for both the Conestoga High School boys and girls swimming teams this winter.
The Pioneer girls team, the defending PIAA District 1 3A champions, went undefeated in Central League meets this winter, then swept to a first place finish in the Central League Meet last weekend, capturing their ninth consecutive Central League title.
The Conestoga boys squad, like the Pioneer girls, were undefeated in Central League meets, finished first at the Central League Meet and won their ninth consecutive Cen. The Conestoga boys squad features a talented senior class and after finishing second to North Penn last winter at the District 1 3A championships, are hoping to capture more glory at Districts this time around.
Conestoga is a perennial swimming power, not only in the Central League but in the District 1 and state level as well. Last winter, both the Conestoga boys and girls placed third at the PIAA Class 3A state championships.
The Conestoga boys team (9-0 overall, 6-0 Central League) has a talented trio of senior tri-captains in Jake Wang, Can Yeniay and Brock Whitaker.
Conestoga boys swimming head coach Mark Tirone said, “Brock, Can and Jake are very competitive individuals and really try to connect with their teammates to bring them to the next level. They lead by example starting with investing the time and energy necessary to be the best they can be. They understand it is a challenging commitment which requires discipline and hard work without shortcuts.
“I think one of the team’s top attributes is the influence the three captains have on their teammates. They have a contagious attitude that with motivation to work hard and work together, they will persevere to make something good happen. This was clearly demonstrated at our Central League Meet, in which every swimmer swam at least one season-best time.”
Wang, who was the 2022-23 Daily Local News Boys Swimmer of the Year last winter, currently holds six state titles (100 yard breaststroke, 200 IM and 200 medley relay as a sophomore, and 100 breast, 200 IM and 400 free relay as a junior). Wang sparkled at the Central League Meet last weekend, winning two individual events (200 yard IM and 100 breaststroke), and setting 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.
“The energy on this year’s team has really been consistently high,” said Wang, who will swim for Yale University next winter. “Our swimmers have been hyped for every meet, and always swim fast.”
Yeniay, who will swim for the University of Pennsylvania next winter, has won two state titles for the Pioneers (200 medley relay as a sophomore, 400 free relay as a junior). Yeniay made his presence felt at the Central League Meet, winning two individual events (200 and 500 free) and contributing to two freestyle relays that set pool and meet records.
“I think this is the fastest individual class we’ve had since I’ve been swimming for Conestoga,” said Yeniay. “The past four years with this team have been some of the most fun times I’ve had.”
Whitaker, who was part of the PIAA 3A state champion 400 free relay team last winter, was part of the 200 free relay that set a pool record at the Central League Meet last weekend, along with Wang, Yeniay and freshman Liam Haas. He also finished second in the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle.
Asked what qualities made this edition of the Conestoga boys swim team special, Whitaker responded, “The work level that has been put out by our swimmers in every grade.”
Like the Conestoga girls swimming team, the Conestoga boys’ squad features considerable depth of talent, and had many high finishes at the Central League Meet. Top four finishes included the 200 medley relay of junior James Oken, junior Stanley Cui, junior Hutch Wood and Haas (third), sophomore Henry Kogan in both the 500 free and the 200 IM (fourth), Haas in both the 50 and 100 free (fourth), Wood in the 100 fly (fourth), the 200 free relay of Ivory, Cui, sophomore Bradley Zhang and junior Justin Cuevas Riego de Dios (fourth) and Cui in the 100 breast (fourth).
Conestoga will be competing in the District 1 3A meet Feb. 23-24. The Pioneer boys squad has not won a district team title.
Tirone said, “Once again, North Penn has a very strong swim team and we are a little stronger than last year. Like every other team out there, we are hoping to give them a run for the District 1 title, but understand it is going to be very difficult.”
The Pioneer girls (12-1 overall, 7-0 Central League), who have won the District 1 3A championship for each of the past three winters, also have some impressive senior swimmers this winter who will swim for college programs, including Mackenzie Nagel (West Point), Jena Nowoswiat (Air Force Academy) and Sarah Fox (Johns Hopkins).
At the Central League meet, Fox finished first in the 500 free (5:11.13) and second in the 200 free (1:56.77). Nagel was third in the 500 free (5:11.80) and fourth in the 200 free (1:57.59). Nowoswiat was third in the 100 fly (57.58).
Conestoga junior diver Avery Hillier, who has committed to Duke University for diving, finished first at the Central League Meet in diving with a point total of 518.90, which is a Conestoga, pool (Ridley) and Central League record.
Hillier also contributed in the swimming events, 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.
“This team is amazing,” said Hillier. “Everyone is so supportive of each other in anything they do, and I think that swimming and diving for the team makes this even better because I get to know everyone and I can always be there to cheer people on or just have fun with the team. I also love the bus rides (to the meets) because we have so much fun listening to music.”
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.”
The Pioneers had plenty of other swimmers who placed in the top eight at the Central League Meet, and one of them, junior Hadar Miller, won the 100 breast (1:03.58).
Conestoga girls swimming head coach Rob 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.”
Kirkby added that one of the other swimmers who has really made an impact on the team is Riley Bosler, who also swims in the ParaOlympics program.
“Riley is not a standout in the athletic sense, but she has made a huge impact on our team,” said Kirkby. “She is an intense performer that works hard all the time in the pool. I believe that others on the team respect her influence and support as she is always there supporting everyone else.”
When asked what it meant to the Conestoga girls to win the program’s ninth consecutive Central League title, Kirkby responded, “I think for some of them, it is hard to grasp how special that is. I don’t think that they take it for granted, but sometimes some of the swimmers get used to how amazing our team depth is and forget how unique that is for a high school swim team to repeat year after year.”
