Upper Dublin Boys’ and Girls’ Swim Teams Maintain Firm Grip on Suburban One American Conference, Win Championships

If there was any doubt that the Cardinals of Upper Dublin are the teams to beat when it comes to swimming in the Suburban One League (SOL) American Conference, it was ended Friday night and Saturday morning in Fort Washington.

Both the Cardinals’ boys and girls took home team championships in dominant fashion, with the boys collecting more points than the second and third place teams combined, and the girls not far from that achievement.

That makes 22 straight conference championships for the girls, who haven't lost since the 1988-89 season. The boys have now won the past 14, dating back to the 1997-98 season.

On Saturday morning, the boys won the SOL title with 452 points, finishing ahead of Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 247 points, and Upper Merion, 158 points.  They took first in seven of the 12 events, including a sweep of all three relays. However, it was the Cardinals depth that really showed: Of the top five finishers in each of the nine individual events, Upper Dublin had 25 of a possible 45.

Placing first for the Cardinals were Ashton Leyens (200 free, third 100 free), Ian Flynn (200 IM), Drew Johnson (diving) and Cooper Tollen (100 breaststroke), who broke the pool record with a time of 1:02.58.

Also setting pool records were the 200 medley relay team of Bobby Bantley, Cooper Tollen, Zach Brech and Ashton Leyens, with a time of 1.38.15; and the 400 freestyle relay team of Bobby Bantley, Eric Jensen, Zach Brech and Ashton Leyens, with a time of 3:14.84.

Other top three finishers were Eric Jensen (second 200 free, second 500 free), Bobby Bantley, (second 100 back, third 50 free), Doug Leonard (third 200 IM), Zach Brech (third 100 fly), Joe Starosta (third 100 back) and Jason Pearce (diving).

The girls were not far behind in their performance, finishing with 427 to second place Wissahickon’s 270. Plymouth-Whitemarsh took home third with 180. The Cardinals took first place in nine of the 12 events, and had 21 of the possible 45 top five finishers in each event. This also included a clean sweep of the three relays.

Placing first for the Cardinals were Erin Regan (200 free, 100 fly), Carolyn Meier (200 IM, 100 free), Lindsey Schmidt (50 free) and Emeline Leyens (100 breast, third 200 IM).

A team of Alex Wheatley, Emeline Leyens, Erin Regan and Lindsey Schmidt won the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:50.78;  Lindsey Schmidt, Ellie Houser, Emeline Leyens and Carolyn Meier won the 200 free relay with a time of 1.40.19; and Erin Regan, Lindsey Schmidt, Sam Wheatley and Carolyn Meier won the 400 free relay with a time of 3.42.34.

Other top three finishers were Sam Wheatley (second, 200 free), Corey Johnson (second, diving), Mieke Scherpbier (second 100 free, third 50 free), Alex Wheatley (third 100 back) and Jessica Nealis (third 500 free).

Full team standings:

Boys (full results)

1.     Upper Dublin - 452
2.     Plymouth-Whitemarsh – 247
3.     Upper Merion – 158
4.     Wissahickon – 150
5.     Cheltenham – 136
6.     Upper Moreland – 85
7.     Norristown – 76
Other records set: Kyle Lukens (PW) 100 fly: 51.75. Alex Chialastri (PW) 100 free: 46.72.

 Girls (full results)

1.     Upper Dublin – 427
2.     Wissahickon – 270
3.     Plymouth Whitemarsh- 180
4.     Upper Merion – 136
5.     Upper Moreland – 133
6.     Cheltenham – 94
7.     Norristown – 50
Records set: Liz McKenna (WHS) 100 back: 1:00.41. Natalee Szopo (UMo) diving: 436.25

Information courtesy of UDSwimming.com