Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
D-East medley relay takes title
Boys: Fechtman, Wright, Doyle, Inman earn state bid in 200 medley
PHILADELPHIA » The Downingtown East boys’ swim team opened up the District 1 Class 3A competition with a surprise victory in the 200-yard medley relay at La Salle University’s Kirk Pool on Thursday.
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.
DJ Fechtman, Owen Wright, Ben Doyle and Jack Inman touched in 1:36.53. In addition to their gold medals, the quartet also received the George Ingram Memorial award for the fastest time in the 200 medley relay, presented by the District 1 Swimming Officials Chapter.
North Penn actually hit the wall first but was disqualified.
Doyle was fifth in the 100 butterfly (51.37) and Fechtman was right behind him in sixth (51.42). Inman placed sixth in the 50 freestyle (21.73).
Inman, Aiden Carroll, Fechtman and Doyle ended the day with a fifth place finish in the 200 freestyle relay (1:27.82) for the Cougars.
“The medley was a little bit of a surprise, but we’ll take it,” Inman said. “It was really exciting. We had to win it to get the automatic (berth) so it’s a big relief. I think we probably would have gone with our time but having first and the automatic is awesome. That really started the meet off right for us. It was a big lift for the team. Everyone’s been swimming well.
“I think we’ll take a big group to states and that will be good. For now I’m just looking forward to swimming the 100 free (Friday) and hopefully not being too slow.”
Downingtown East is third in team scoring with 108 points. North Penn leads the competition (176).
For Conestoga, Raymond Welgosh finished fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:42.33), Luke Nagel was eighth in the same event (1:44.20) and Gary Wang took eighth in the 100 butterfly (51.65).
James Hughes, Wang, Welgosh and Stephen Graver capped the day with the bronze in the 200 freestyle relay (1:26.57). Conestoga is fifth in team scoring (89).
Liam Simmons, Nathan Ober, Ryan Barish and Ronan Gorman of Kennett teamed up to take third in the 200 medley relay (1:36.81). The Blue Demons are eighth in team scoring (53).
In other action, Dylan Smoulders of West Chester Henderson took fifth in the 200 individual medley (1:55.33) and Oxford’s Alex Karahalis was seventh in the 200 individual medley (1:56.78).
In addition, Coatesville’s Ethan Moore made the podium, taking fifth in the 50 freestyle (21.70).
The meet concludes on Friday.