Sussex Tech swimming defeats Indian River on Senior Night

The Sussex Tech Class of 2019 includes in back (l-r) Colten Schweiger, Collin Handy, Cline Broussard, Jon Lee, Mike Wesolowski, Gian Singh and Ryan Morrow. In front are McKenna Longa, Alessia Motta, Meghan Allen, Carmen Velasquez, Jenna Beard, Brittany Hall, Kelsey Fowler, Amy Venables and Ali Equiluz. DAN COOK PHOTOS

Dan Cook

February 1, 2019

The Sussex Tech and Indian River swim teams celebrated their Senior Nights Jan. 30 at the Sussex Academy Aquatic Center. When the ripples subsided, the Ravens had taken a 102-60 boys’ win and a 130-40 girls’ victory.

The girls’ 200 medley relay was won by Tech’s Abby Fowler, Kylie Mitchell, Amy Venables and Meghan Allen in 2:03.03. The 200 free was won by Sussex Tech’s Molly Doplar in 2:10.82. Mitchell followed with a first-place 2:21.09 in the 200 IM. Venables won the 50 free in 28:02 and won the 100 fly in 1:08.09. Allen placed first in the 100 free in 57 seconds. Indian River’s Alexandra Hall won the 500 free in 7:02.46. The 200 free relay was won by Dopler, Sarah Purdue, Hall and Allen in 1:52.72. Mitchell won the 100 backstroke in 1:07.41. Allen took first in the 100 breaststroke in 1:14:51. The 400 free relay was won by Tech’s Kelsey Fowler, Hall, Jenna Beard and Venables.

The Indian River medley relay team of Declan Burke, Lian Adkins, Ethan Forrey and William Douds started off the boys’ meet with a 1:52.76 first-place finish. Tech’s Evan Davis took first in the 200 free in 1:54.76. Tech’s Owen Pogwist took the IM in 2:09.09. Indian River’s Michael Barnes won the 50 free at 23.21. Tech’s Jon Lee won the 100 fly in 1:02.28. Pogwist took first in the 100 free in 50.42. Tech’s Davis won the 500 in 5:22.36. Tech’s Pogwist, Michael Wesolowski, Nathan Venables and Davis placed first in the 200 free relay, while teammate Cline Broussard won the 100 backstroke in 1:04.06. Tech’s Lee also won the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.39. The Ravens team of Pogwist, Wesolowski, Venables, and Davis finished the meet with a win in the 400 free relay.

“We always look forward to a great meet with Indian River,” said Tech coach Michele Thomas. “It's turning into a good rivalry in swimming. We were fortunate to catch Indian River with a few swimmers out of their lineup, but they have fast swimmers every year. We are hopeful to have everyone healthy for conferences, put some personal best times on the board and have more state qualifiers. This is the time of the year where swimmers are focused on the school record board. Our boys are hopeful to set new relay records, and a few girls including Kylie Mitchell hope to set new individual records.”

“Tonight, our guys swam well,” said Indian River boys’ coach Colin Crandel. “They have been training very hard, so they were swimming tired as we approach the taper part of our season. I expected them to struggle a bit and swim through soreness, but I was very pleased with their results. It showed great promise for our conference meet next week. I expect we will be rested, strong and ready to compete.”

Tech was set to swim a tri-meet at the Central YMCA in Dover Jan. 31, then will play host to Caesar Rodney Monday, Feb. 4. Indian River is off until the Henlopen Conference Championships Saturday, Feb. 9.

The Indian River Class of 2019 includes in back (l-r) Patrick Banks, Dylan Tuttle, Mitch McGee, Mike Barnes, Alex Corpus, Pat Callow, Max Kohr and Sam Miltner. In front are (l-r) Amber Hills, Kaitlyn Kreiser and Allison Douds.