Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Avon Grove turns page on new era
A few familiar faces hope to keep powerful Red Devils rolling
WEST GROVE >> The Avon Grove High School girls’ swimming team features a trio of talented, versatile swimmers who played a large role in the Red Devils’ state title in 2017, as well as last winter’s PIAA 3A state runner-up.
One of them is junior Izzy Paoletti, who won four state medals last winter as a sophomore, including a second-place finish in the 500 free. Her sister, Olivia Paoletti, who won five individual gold medals at States during her Avon Grove career, is now swimming at Yale.
“Izzy is probably our most versatile swimmer,” said Burk. “She can really swim any of our events well and without complaint. Izzy is very much like Olivia in that she is a competitor. No matter how tired she is, or even if she’s sick, she will fight down to her core to make sure she is giving 200 percent for the team.”
Another junior, Sydney Paglia, won three medals at States last winter, placing fourth in 100 back and ninth in 100 fly.
“Sydney is a great all-around athlete, and is a District 1-level runner as well,” said Burk. “Just like Izzy, Syd is a fighter - she pushes through exhaustion or the flu for her teammates and herself. Syd is very tough on herself and is always asking what she could have done to improve her swim.”
The third swimmer in this talented trio is senior Rabea Pfaff, who was third in 100 breast at States last winter and eighth in 200IM. She is an Academic All-American, a member of the National Honor Society, has a GPA of 4.555 and is ranked eighth in her class. She recently signed with University of North Carolina, where she plans on studying neuroscience.
“Rabea has been an integral part of our team’s success over the last three years through her versatility, team leadership and sportsmanship - you can always see Rabea cheering on her teammates or trying to relax them before their swims,” said Burk.
Paglia and Burk were part of the Red Devils’ 200 medley relay team which earned a silver medal at States last winter.
“We have been lucky enough to have four solid swimmers in all four strokes over the last four years,” said Burk. “These swimmers are not only distance swimmers but can also sprint. Sydney is a phenomenal butterflier and her 50 fly is one of the fastest in the state. Rabea will move into the breast position, and Izzy will once again anchor the relay. Our goal over the next two months is to find the right swimmer for the back stroke leg.”
“I know I sound like a broken record but the girls that we have on our team are just very well rounded in and out of the pool,” said Burk. “They are all hard workers and resilient. I think that is what makes them so special.”
That versatility really paid off in 2017, when the Red Devils defeated North Penn, which had four times as many swimmers as Avon Grove, on the way to the PIAA state team title.
Avon Grove swimming head coach Kelly Burk, in her 10th year as head of the Red Devils, said, “We were lucky enough to have seven solid swimmers who were able to step up at the State level to have
great swims and place in the top 16 in their individual events. We also were able to put together three relays that we were also able to score huge points up at States in 2017. Things just all came into place at the right time in 2017.”
The past few years, Avon Grove has grown from winning ChesMont National Division titles to capturing the school’s first state title in four decades in 2017.
“We are very lucky to have topnotch coaches in Kelly Burk, and her assistant, Chic McKnelly,” said Avon Grove athletic director Vanessa Robtison. “Anyone lucky enough to watch them coach would quickly see the mutual respect our coaches and athletes have for one another. They have built a positive team culture that promotes team and individual successes. Kelly and Chic place an emphasis on high quality instruction, fundamentals, teamwork and are the epitome of interscholastic athletics.”
Burk said, “Since becoming our Athletic Director, Vanessa Robtison has done everything she can in making sure we have the tools to be successful. It helped the team’s confidence that the Athletic Director even before we won our first ChesMont title - takes her time to come off site to cheer on the swimmers and divers.”
This season presents a new challenge for Avon Grove, as the Red Devils lost five key seniors to graduation – Olivia Paoletti, Clare McGovern (University of South Carolina), Serena Derederian (Tufts), Aley Savory and Samantha Paglia.
This winter is a huge rebuilding year for us,” said Burk. “We lost five seniors last season with probably the best graduating class Avon Grove swimming/diving has ever seen. We are going to have to figure out over the course of the next couple of months where our incoming freshman will play a role in our lineup. We are just going to take each dual meet as they come and focus on the big picture at Districts and States when they are well rested and ready to go.
“We are lucky to have three veterans who are very versatile leading the Lady Devils.”
Other than Izzy Paoletti (200 free, 500 free), Rabea Pfaff (100 breast, 200 IM) and Sydney Paglia (50 free, 100 back, 100 fly), key swimmers to watch for the Red Devils this winter include junior diver Julie Colarusso and sophomore Meghan Waldron (100 back).
Here’s an early-season look at the Chesco high school swim teams from which we were able to obtain pre-season information:
Girls
DOWNINGTOWN EAST >> The leading returnee for the Cougars is sophomore Grace Bousum, who finished 16th in the 200 free and 24th in the 500 free at States last winter. She also is a valued contributor to relays. Other key returnees include sophomores Lindsay Blake (100 back, 500 free) and Grace Noble (200 IM, 100 breast, relays), and seniors Heather MacClausland (200 IM, 100 breast, sprint free, relays) and Caroline Maki (100 breast, sprint free, relays). Other swimmers to watch include freshman Kaelee Dortone (free and fly), sophomore Cameron Kiebort (sprint free), juniors Claire Koloseike (sprint free) and Jordan Lambe (100 fly, 500 free), and senior Sydney Haefner (100 fly, 500 free). GREAT VALLEY >> The Patriots, who posted a 5-4 record last winter, are still building, according to head coach Joe Bradley: “We have two of our top swimmers in team history in Mac and Allyssa [sophomore Mac Sullivan and junior Alyssa Utecht], and our largest team in years, but we only have one four-year swimmer, so we’re building. Our team has a lot of raw talent, but they’re not quite seasoned enough to be competitive at every spot in our line-up against top teams.” Sullivan (100 fly, 100 back), Utecht (100 back, 100 free, 200 free) and junior Peyton Turner (100 free, 100 breast, 200 IM) are the key returnees; other to watch include senior Elaine Loose (100 breast, 50 free); sophomores Morgan Carkner (diving); Bella Gilmartin (50 free, 100 free); and Madison Geibel (100 back); and freshman Kylie Maher (100 back). UNIONVILLE >> The Indians (6-1 overall, 5-0 league last winter) feature strong freestyle swimmers in all grade levels, according to head coach Elizabeth Smith. Key returnees include senior Camryn Carter (50 free, 100 free, 200 free); senior Olivia Miller (50 free, 100 free); junior Jill Anderson (100 breast, 50 free); sophomore Lily Carlson (100 fly, 100 free); sophomore Molly Carson (50 free, 100 free, 100 back); sophomore Emma McGovern (50 free, 100 free); and junior diver Hunter Smith. Other swimmers to watch include freshman Emily Albans (100 fly, 100 back); freshman Logan Wilson (200 IM); and sophomore Emma Shields (100 breast). WEST CHESTER EAST >> Despite losing six-time All-American Ann Carozza to graduation (West Chester University), the Vikings feature some solid returnees in senior Emily Hahn (100 back, 500 free); junior
Valerie Galitski (100 free, 50 free, 100 fly); and senior Kristyn Usilton (50 free, 100 free). Others to watch are sophomore Anna McNaull (100 breast) and senior Samantha Topka (100 back, 100 free). WEST CHESTER HENDERSON >> The Warriors, who posted a 4-3 ChesMont National record last winter, hope to continue to develop their team depth this season, with key returnees including junior Maya Byrne (free/fly), sophomore Caitlin Cieslukowski (free/fly), sophomore Hannah Fruhwirth (IM/breast/fly), senior Meghan Gamble (free/back), sophomore Marisa Krauss (breast/ fly), junior Julia Li (back/free), senior Courtney Marlin (free/IM), senior Kira Mulhern (breast/fly) and junior Hannah Zelznick (free). Freshmen to watch include Lily Horenkamp (diving), Rylee Kelly (free/ back), Krista Marlin (back/IM) and Katie Simpson (free/back). WEST CHESTER RUSTIN >> The Golden Knights posted a 5-3 record last winter and have a youthful lineup this season, including junior Erin Koczur (IM and breaststroke) and sophomores Sophia Piccone (IM and distance events), Sarah Jackson (breaststroke and IM) and Tara Brosnan (fly and breast). Freshman Amanda Rollings is another Rustin swimmer to watch, as is freshman diver Kylee Kiger.
Boys
AVON GROVE >> Although the Red Devils’ swimming roster is relatively small this winter, the squad has several returning district qualifiers. Key returnees include senior Aaron Tupper (sprint free and 100 back); senior Collin Slupe (200 free, 500 free); sophomore Liam Perrin (200 free, 500 free); and sophomore Aidan Parente (100 back, 100 fly) DOWNINGTOWN EAST >> The Cougars, who compiled a 7-2 record last season, have a standout swimmer returning in junior Ben Doyle, who finished sixth in the 100 breast and 23rd in the 50 free at States last winter. He is also valuable in the 200IM and relays. Other key returnees include sophomore DJ Fechtman (100 back, relays), junior Jack Inman (50 free, 100 free, 100 back, relays), and seniors Vincent Ye (200 free, 100 fly, relays), and Rob Esslinger (50 free, 100 free, 200 free, relays). Other swimmers to watch include freshman Aidan McIlroy (100 back, 100 fly), sophomores Aiden Carroll (100 back, 500 free) and Owen Wright (100 breast, 200 IM), and senior Matt Wan (100 fly, 100 free.) GREAT VALLEY >> According to head coach Joe Bradley, the Patriots’ biggest strength is youth: “Our top three juniors really push each
other – Tommy Boerger has a legitimate shot to become a state qualifier this year.” Those three juniors are Boerger (200 free, 200 IM, 500 free); Brett Graff (200 IM, 100 fly, 100 breast); and Kenny Yang (100 free, 200 free). Other swimmers to watch are sophomores Colin Search (50 free, 100 free) and Osagie Anetor (100 breast) and freshmen Leo Hawke (distance freestyle) and Phillip Zhang (200 IM, 100 breast). UNIONVILLE >> The Indians (6-1 overall, 5-0 league last winter) lost some standout swimmers to graduation (Harrison Bass - Rensselaer, Liam Callahan - Penn State, Matt DiPaolo, Eric Zhu) but have a solid returning core in senior Jack Murray (100 fly, 100 breast); senior Dominic Braithwaite (50 free, 100 free); junior Connor Long (100 fly, 50 free); and sophomore Max Braithwaite (50 free, 200 free). Another swimmer to watch is freshman Jimmy Pierce (50 free, 100 back). WEST CHESTER EAST >> The Vikings, who were 7-1 last winter, feature depth, with key returnees including junior JP Perucki (100 breaststroke - state qualifier, 100 fly, 50 free, 100 free); junior AJ Avagliano (200 free, 100 fly, 200 IM); junior Matt Sivo (100 back, 100 fly); senior Phil Leander (50 free, 100 free, 100 back); and senior Emil Vasko (diving). Others to watch include sophomore Jon Sherlock (100 breast); senior Andrew Hickey (500 free); and junior Kyle Puchalla (200 free, 500 free). WEST CHESTER HENDERSON >> The Warriors, who posted a 7-0 ChesMont National record last winter, have some experienced swimmers returning, including seniors Michael Bonsall (free/fly), Noah Carnuccio (back/free) and Hugh McIntyre (breast/IM), junior Will Merrill (diving) and sophomores PJ Cronauer (free/back) and Tie Manuel (free/back). Another swimmer to watch is freshman Dylan Smolders (back/free). Jeff Bott, who has served as Henderson’s head coach for 25 years, said, “There are many athletes on this team who got some valuable experiences scoring a lot of depth points last season. The biggest competitive challenge will likely be having those depth points turn into top three finishes in dual meets.” WEST CHESTER RUSTIN (BOYS) >> The Golden Knights, who were 4-4 last winter, have some solid returning swimmers in seniors David Bussard (distance events), Andrew Brown (breaststroke and free events) and Nick Pirone (diving); juniors Nick Lutcavage (fly and free) and Alec Pirone (diving); and sophomore Colin Breiner (IM, back and relays). Freshman Adam Khatib is another Rustin swimmer to watch.