CB West boys rack up district medals

The Central Bucks West boys swim team made a huge statement.

The Bucks were one of the most dominant teams at this year’s District One Class 3A championships, held Friday and Saturday at the York YMCA’s Graham Aquatic Center.

A performance that included four second-place finishes in individual events, two individual bronze medals and another third place in a relay, CB West placed third in team scoring with 218 points, just getting nosed out for second by perennial powerhouse Conestoga’s 223.

North Penn won the overall team title (318).

Event winners receive automatic berths into the PIAA championships, to be held March 13-16 at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium. Other swimmers may qualify for at-large spots based on statewide time comparisons.

Connor Mangan started things off for the Bucks with second place in the 200-yard freestyle (1:41.62). He also earned the silver medal in the 500 freestyle (4:36.89).

“I’m definitely happy with those times,” Mangan said. “It was my PB (personal best) in the 500. I never went that fast, and the 200 is right where it should be so it’s looking really good for states. I’m ready to swim well there and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever finished that high in the team standings. We were in a battle the whole meet with Conestoga for second and it was so close. It came down to that last relay, but that really does give us a lot of confidence for states.”

Derek Feldman did his share with a second-place finish in the 50 freestyle (20.90) and third in the 100 freestyle (45.89).

“I’m mostly excited about our relays,” Feldman said. “The synergy was there. We barely cracked the top 10 last year and this year we’re top three.

“We did about a three-day taper for this meet and I also have a bit of a cold, so I’m really excited to see what happens at states when I’m healthy and tapered. For sure, I think my best swims are still in front of me and I think that’s true for the whole team.”

Blaise Hofmann contributed a second-place finish in the 200 individual medley (1:54.02) and fourth place in the 100 backstroke (50.22).

“It was a great meet,” Hofmann said. “I had so much fun, and everyone did great.

“I thought we had second place for the team competition. It was so close. But compared to where we were three years ago, I think that’s outstanding. As a team and individual for every swimmer, we killed it.

“That IM yesterday (Friday) I was tired, but I got in my head a lot and that was a big thing. I know I can do better, so I have to just not think about it so much. I almost dropped to where I want to be, but I know I can do it at states.

“I’ve never been that high on the podium, second place, fourth place, and it’s a great feeling.”

Jimin Chung reached the podium in two individual events; the 200 individual medley with his third-place finish (1:54.24) and sixth place in the 100 butterfly (50.75).

“I was hoping to go a little faster, but I’m happy with those times,” Chung said. “I still dropped time and I think they’ll be good enough to get me into states. We didn’t do much of a taper. We’re saving that for states.

“Everyone on our team swam great and that’s really inspiring.”

Chung, Karl Linde, Mangan and Feldman ended the meet with a flourish, capturing the bronze in the 400 freestyle relay (3:08.83).

Also for CB West, the 200 freestyle relay of Hofmann, Luke Tomlinson, Linde and Feldman took fourth (1:26.18) and the 200 medley relay of Mangan, Darren Sung, Chung and Hofmann placed fifth (1:35.53).

Max McCloskey was 21st in the 500 freestyle (4:56.07) and 23rd in the 200 freestyle (1:49.63) while Sung placed 22nd in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.27) and Elijah Barker took 40th in the 500 freestyle (5:12.36) for CB West.

Owen Lever earned an individual medal for Central Bucks East, taking seventh in the 200 freestyle (1:45.78). He was also 18th in the 500 freestyle (4:52.60).

“My 200 was solid,” Lever said. “It wasn’t exactly the time I wanted but it got me on the podium. I think it will get me into states, but it’s very competitive so we’ll see.

“The 500 was not what I expected. I have the ability to do better but I just didn’t do it here. Unfortunately, that’s been the case for me the past few years. But I know I can do it, and hopefully that will resolve itself soon.”

The Patriots’ 400 freestyle relay of James Ruch, Lever, Wyatt DeBoyace and Brady Scott touched 18th (3:19.49) while the 200 medley relay of Ruch, Theo Miksa, Ryan Burek and Scott was 19th (1:40.15).

Scott was 20th in the 100 butterfly (52.93) and 22nd in the 100 backstroke (54.30) and Burek finished 32nd in the 100 butterfly (54.81) for the Patriots.

Sean Brush of Council Rock North finished 10th in the 200 freestyle (1:46.17) and 15th in the 500 freestyle (4:51.19) while Sebastian Vradinskiy placed 10th in the 100 breaststroke (58.84) and 17th in the 200 individual medley (1:59.65).

Connor Williams was 12th in the 50 freestyle (21.75) and 21st in the 100 freestyle (48.52) and Hayden Eshelman finished 27th in the 50 freestyle (22.34) and 33rd in the 100 freestyle (49.60) for the Indians.

The Indians competed in all three relays.

The 400 freestyle relay of Brush, Eshelman, Luciano DeRenzo and Williams finished 12th (3:15.01), the 200 freestyle relay of Vradinskiy, DeRenzo, Nigel Lukomski-Pizzo and Eshelman placed 13th (1:29.51) and 200 medley relay of Brush, Vradinskiy, Lukomski-Pizzo and Williams was 16th (1:38.13).

Richard Scholer placed 12th in the 100 breaststroke (59.10) and 16th in the 100 butterfly (52.65) to end his standout career at Central Bucks South.

Also for the Titans, Richard Mahony was 17th in the 100 breaststroke (59.80), Jack Riegel finished 21st in the 200 freestyle (1:49.33) and 32nd in the 500 freestyle (5:01.80), and Sebastian Peev ended up 36th in the 500 freestyle (5:03.18) and 39th in the 200 individual medley (2:06.71).

Central Bucks South’s 200 medley relay of Peev, Mahony, Scholer and Riegel was 17th (1:39.76).

For Council Rock South, Owen Hamnett took 12th in the 100 backstroke (52.73) and 25th in the 100 butterfly (53.41), and Nikita Jenza was 14th in the 100 butterfly (52.45) and 25th in the 100 freestyle (48.89).

Council Rock South’s 400 freestyle relay of Jenza, Hamnett, Nikita Stefanovich and Dennis Delenyan wound up 17th (3:19.49) and the 200 medley relay of Hamnett, Jenza, Stefanovich and Sam Cantwell was 21st (1:41.93).

Quakertown’s Joshua Einolf was 16th in the 200 individual medley (1:59.32) and 17th in the 100 butterfly (52.73).

For Pennridge, Michael Timm finished 17th in the 100 freestyle (48.47) and 26th in the 50 freestyle (22.31). Timothy Hong placed 22nd in the 200 freestyle (1:49.50) while teammate Ethan Whitehurst was 31st (1:50.80) for the Rams.

In Class 2A, freshman Louden Foff of New Hope-Solebury collected his first district medal, placing sixth in the 100 butterfly (57.89). He was also 10th in the 500 freestyle (5:21.70).

“I dropped time from my personal best for high school in the fly,” Foff said. “In the 500, I dropped a bunch of time. I’m really hoping my fly time gets me into states. That would be a great experience for me.

“This was my first district meet and I liked it a lot. It’s a gigantic meet and it’s so cool to be here. It’s a different experience. I think I did really well for where I am in the season. This is really where I want to be, time-wise.”

Fellow Lion Finn Zackham freshman was 15th in the 100 backstroke (1:05.99).

New Hope does not have a swim team, so Foff and Zackham competed as individuals.

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