'STOGA SWIM AND DIVE
Conestoga vs. Springfield - January 31, 2020
It was a spirited and strong Springfield squad that would be Stoga’s final hurdle in their quest for another perfect Central League season on Friday night. The ten lane natatorium at Swarthmore College was the setting for the meet, and the swimming lived up to the great venue. The drama was especially intense on the boys’ side… so we will start with the girls.
Caroline Famous once again got the girls going, building a body-length lead from the start in the 200 Medley Relay. Naomi Furman then used a strong second 50 to extend the lead, which was driven home by Allison Yuan and Louise Hay. Alyssa Totoro’s effort almost reeled in Springfield for second, but the team of Kalie Whitaker, Adriana Bertolotti, Totoro and Keira Haas was edged out and finished third.
The 200 Free was a Stoga sweep from the start, as Lily Robinson, Audrey Laganelli, Ava Collin, and Ayala Miller were 1-2-3-4 after 50, and stayed that way to the end. Another across the board strong effort followed in the 200 IM. Furman used dominant breast and freestyle legs to easily outdistance the field, while Delaney Burns fantastic freestyle allowed her to edge out Ally McKenrick for silver.
Famous was back in the 50 Free sprint, winning a touch by .05. Teammate Yuan finished 4th. With diving happening previously, a short senior recognition break was followed by another Stoga sweep in the 100 Fly. Yuan cruised to the win while Emma Galef’s strong final 50 allowed her to edge McKenrick and Joyce Fung who went 3-4.
Robinson was off the blocks quickly in the 100 Free, withstood the challenge from Hay at the turn, and took gold over Hay and Collin.
The 500 Free was shaping up as the closest battle of the night on the girls side, and took an unexpected turn when Springfield’s Michelle Kubiak powered past Laganelli late for the win. Laganelli, Totoro, and Miller finished 2-3-4.
Hay led the way in the 200 Free Relay, as her team that included Yuan, Totoro, and Famous got gold, over Collin, Fung, Galef and Laganelli. But the real fun was in lane 8, as Jamie Semmer anchored fellow divers Caroline Corr, Paige Cutler, and Tanna Styer to a 7th place finish.
Famous overcame a rare challenge at the turn in the 100 Back to take gold, with Sarah Park posting a Central’s qualifying time and finishing third. Then another Stoga 1-3 finish by Furman and Bertolotti led into an exciting 400 Free relay.
Robinson handed a small lead to Madi Ritzenthaler and Ella O’Shea. But anchor Natalia McLaughlin faced a battle down the stretch and was touched out for gold, as Springfield notched their second win of the night in the final event.
Final Score – Conestoga 105, Springfield 73
While the girls side was never in doubt, the boys was an exciting event-by-event nailbiter. Gary Wang got Stoga started, building a two body-length lead in the backstroke leg of the 200 Medley Relay. Raymond Welgosh, Yash Ray, and James Hughes hammered home the win. After Ryan McDonough got them started, Ishau Jiang’s strong second leg gave Stoga a chance for a 1-2 sweep, but Noel Park and Stanley Kim couldn’t quite close and they took third.
Springfield served notice that they were a formidable foe, bouncing back in the 200 Free to go 1-2. Jack Semmer touched out Miles Whitaker to take bronze. Stephen Graver faced a test in the 200 IM, going stroke for stroke down the stretch before getting the touch by .21. James Manion finished 4th.
Ray was first off the blocks in the 50 Free sprint, but couldn’t maintain his lead. No matter… teammates Welgosh and Hughes powered down the stretch to go 1-2, with Ray fading to 4th. Factoring in the diving that was held previously, Stoga held a small lead at the break. But any lead they had evaporated after the 100 Fly, as Jiang and McDonough could only manage 3-4 in a tight battle.
Stoga came right back in the 100 Free. With Welgosh’s strong second 50 being the difference for gold, Wang held off a late challenge for silver. A rested Luke Nagel hit the pool for the first time in the 500 Free, and held a lead early. But Springfield’s Matthew Seifried was strategically drafting in his wake, and pounced down the stretch to outdistance Nagel and Park, who went 2-3. With two relays and two flats left, it was still close.
Wang’s third leg was the key in the 200 Free relay. Slightly behind despite strong swims from Graver and Kim, Wang reeled in Springfield and allowed Manion to hit the water first in the anchor leg. Manion didn’t relinquish the lead. With all eyes on the middle lanes, Hughes, Whitaker, Nagel and Ray came from nowhere to almost capture silver, but they lost the touch.
Springfield wasn’t going away, capturing 1st, 2nd and 4th in the 100 Back to edge back into contention. Needing to win the 100 Breast, Stoga would have to rely on freshman Christopher Ivory, and senior Aaron Li who has been fighting injuries all season. They were up for the test. Both used huge turns to outdistance Springfield, with the freshman outpacing the senior in the 1-2 finish. It would come down to the 400 Free Relay.
With the crowd on their feet, Graver took over from Nagel and handed off a small lead to Welgosh. And Welgosh dominated from there. The sophomore built a three body-length lead that was more than enough to hand off to Wang to hammer home for the event, and meet, win. With no one watching, Whitaker, Park, James Hughes and Kim finished 3rd.
Final Score – Conestoga 99, Springfield 86.