The District 1 Class 3A Swimming Championships kicked off on March 15, 2024, at the Graham Aquatic Center in York, with notable performances from the Delco teams. Radnor captured two silver medals in the relays, particularly excelling in the 200 freestyle relay, while Garnet Valley’s Kayla Reasons secured a third-place finish in the 50 freestyle.
In the 200 freestyle relay, Radnor’s team, consisting of Alice Lake, Orlaith Dill, Beatrice Mackenzie, and Elise Flannagan, clocked in at 1:36.92. They finished just one second behind the dominant team from Upper Dublin. This impressive time positions the Raptors well for the upcoming state championships, as only district champions automatically qualify for states. However, 32 swimmers and relays will compete in each event, with the 23 fastest times from district competitions advancing beyond the nine automatic bids in Class 3A.
Flannagan stood out in the relay, delivering an exceptional anchor leg in 23.49 seconds. She also placed seventh in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:54.44, a mark that should qualify her for states. Lake further added to the team’s success, securing fifth place in the 100 butterfly with a time of 57.02 seconds.
Garnet Valley’s Kayla Reasons finished third in the 50 freestyle, clocking in at 23.92 seconds, while Penncrest’s Morgan Peterson tied for fifth at 24.08 seconds, both likely securing spots at states. In the 200 individual medley, Haverford’s Caroline Whitney claimed fifth place with a time of 2:06.50, closely followed by Springfield’s Addyson Despeaux, who finished in 2:07.16.
In the boys’ events, Radnor began strong by placing second in the 200 medley relay. The team, which included Johan Mattisson, Alex Yu, William Ledbetter, and Ethan Chang, finished with a time of 1:35.93, just behind Central Bucks East. Chang’s anchor leg, where he clocked 21.01 seconds, was pivotal in securing the silver medal by overtaking Haverford, who finished third at 1:36.07.
Yu also performed well, finishing third in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.01 seconds, while Chang placed 14th at 21.84 seconds. Ridley’s Cody Hollenback finished ninth in the same event with a time of 21.49 seconds, putting him in a strong position for state qualification.
Additionally, Aaron Neville from Garnet Valley likely secured a state berth with his fourth-place finish in the 100 butterfly, completing the race in 50.79 seconds. Ryan Muntz from Radnor placed 11th in the 200 individual medley, while his teammate Chase Rose finished 13th.
As the first day of competition came to a close, Radnor’s 200 medley relay team finished 12th, with Penncrest placing 14th and Springfield 16th. Interboro’s Jimmy Toland made an impact as well, securing sixth place in the boys Class 2A 50 freestyle with a time of 23.61 seconds.
The championships will conclude on March 16, 2024, as competitors strive for final positions that could lead to qualification for the state championships. With strong performances on opening day, the Delco teams have set a competitive tone for the remainder of the meet.
