Villa Maria makes it 18 in a row

PHILADELPHIA » They made it 18 in a row, and they made it look pretty easy.

The Villa Maria swim team posted a score of 371 points to easily outdistance runner up Nazareth Academy and capture its 18th consecutive District 1 Class 2A girls’ team title, which concluded Friday at La Salle University’s Kirk Pool.

Only event winners in swimming receive automatic berths at the PIAA championships, slated for March 11-14 at Bucknell University. Other swimmers may receive at-large berths based on statewide time comparisons.

Madeline Ladd and Megan Cassidy went 1-2 for the Hurricanes in the 100 breaststroke. Ladd posted a time of 1:00.17 and Cassidy went 1:01.23. Katie Regan was second in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.42).

Villa Maria’s Caitlyn Hamill took fourth in the 500 freestyle (5:21.73) and Hannah King was fifth in the 100 freestyle (53.61).

“I think I swam really well,” said Hamill, a senior captain who will swim at West Chester next season. “I wasn’t tapered at all. For our team, we do feel the pressure to keep winning the title. We came in kind of pumped because we scored 45 points in diving, so we were confident.

“But we still have to swim our best time and keep the places we’re seeded in to maintain that. I think this team is honestly my favorite team in the four years I’ve been here. We worked really hard.

“I’m very excited for states now.”

Hamill, Maddie George, Ladd and Regan teamed up to finish sixth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:44,75).

“Our medley relay kicked things off with a win on Thursday and that was awesome,” said Regan, a senior captain. “I was able to drop time in both my IM and my breaststroke so I was happy with that.

“I feel really good about states and I can’t wait. This year I really feel that my experience will help, so I hope I can get in to swim in one of my individual events. “I’m really excited for the medley relay. I’m really looking forward to that. I swam in the medley relay at states last year and it was awesome.”

In girls’ Class 3A, Izzy Paoletti of Avon Grove capped off the meet with a victory in the 500 freestyle (4:53.42). The triumph comes after her win in the 200 individual medley on Thursday. The two victories combined to earn her the B.J. Howat Outstanding Swimmer award.

In addition to her gold medal for the 500, Paoletti also received the Lisa Forlini Memorial award, presented by the Bucks County Chapter of Swim Officials, for posting the meet’s fastest time in the 500 freestyle.

Sydney McCracken was the district titlist in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.32) for Kennett.

Conestoga’s Caroline Famous took second in the 100 backstroke (55,33) while teammate Lily Robinson was fifth in the 100 freestyle (51.98). The Pioneers were fourth in team scoring with 138 points. North Penn won the team title (299).

Alexa Fulton of Downingtown East took third in the 100 freestyle (51.53). The Cougars finished sixth in team scoring (117). Victoria Maki, Fulton, Grace Noble and Grace Bousom finished fifth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:31.08).

West Chester Henderson’s Krista Martin was fourth in the 100 backstroke (56.26). She then anchored the 400 freestyle relay for Katie Simpson, Shannon Gamble and Maya Byrne. The four

some took home the bronze medal (3:29.97). Henderson was third in team scoring (156).

Tori Howard of Downingtown West finished in eighth place in the 100 backstroke (56.84).

In the boys Class 3A competition, DJ Fechtman of Downingtown East took the bronze in the 100 back- stroke (50.66).

“I’m really happy with how I swam,” Fechtman said. “It’s close to my best time and I wasn’t really rested or tapered. I feel good about getting to states with that time. It’s faster than I went last year and I made it out last year so that gives me a lot of confidence.

“I had a little trouble with my start yesterday, it was a little slippery. I worked on it today and that really helped. It was really a competitive race so that’s good preparation for states.”

Ben Doyle was fourth in the 100 breaststroke (57.73) for the Cougars, who finished fifth in team scoring with 144 points. North Penn won the team competition (312).

Kennett’s Liam Simmons was seventh in the 100 backstroke (52.38).

Raymond Welgosh of Conestoga was eighth in the 500 freestyle (4:42.60) while fellow Pioneer Gary Wang took eighth in the 100 breaststroke (58.27).

Matthew Pawlow, Welgosh, Luke Nagel and Stephen Graver combined to

take sixth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:13.34).

Conestoga finished third in team scoring (152).