This year’s Suburban One League Colonial Division boys swimming championships was a triumph for Central Bucks West.
The Bucks finished second in team scoring with 369 points to perennial champion and host North Penn on Friday night at North Penn’s Rick Carroll Natatorium.
Connor Mangan of Central Bucks West won two individual events, the 200 freestyle (1:43.82) and 500 freestyle (4:47.17), while teammate Derek Feldman was the winner of the 50 freestyle (21.02) and 100 freestyle (45.67).
“Everyone swam great and I’m really proud of everyone, especially on our relays,” Feldman said. “We really pulled through. North Penn has been a dynasty for so long and for us to challenge them is really amazing.
“I’m happy with my times and where I am in the season. Districts is my favorite meet and I think West is going to do incredible.”
Mangan’s time in the 200 freestyle lowered the school record of 1:44.54, set in 2009 by Sean Cook.
“We got the job done,” said Mangan, a senior. “We beat Souderton, who we lost to in the dual meet, so we did what we wanted to do.
“The last two years we’ve had a very strong team and we’ve gotten second both years, which is something we haven’t done before, and we won a lot of events. Going into districts, our confidence is really high. There’s a lot of good competition at districts, but we’ll see.
“I got the team record in the 200 so I’m happy with that, and my 500 is right around where it’s been all year so I’m happy with that. I’m looking to go faster at districts.”
Mangan has been living with alopecia since May of last year.
“If there’s a sport where hair loss isn’t an issue, this is it,” he said. “It’s like I’ve been shaved for every meet. I just ignore it. It hasn’t been a problem.
“They’re not sure what caused it. I think I got it when I got the flu, and that triggered something. I’m taking medication for it and it’s sort of working but it takes a while.”
Also for West, Blaise Hofmann won the 200 individual medley (1:55.08) and Jimin Chung won the 100 butterfly (50.95).
“It was a great meet,” Hofmann said. “I think we totally killed it on Friday. A lot of people had personal bests. I think next year we have a real shot at winning it. We won almost every event but with some little, minor improvements I think we can do even better.”
Chung has been focused on the butterfly all season.
“Breaking a 51 in the fly has been a top goal of mine for the past year,” he said. “I haven’t been able to do it but at leagues I managed to do it. It gives me pretty good confidence for districts.
“Our team did great. Derek just came out of nowhere with a 44.5 and outtouching North Penn by .2 or something. North Penn is so dominant in this sport and it was really great to see everyone on our side just really competing with them and winning a lot of events.
Hofmann, Luke Tomlinson, Karl Linde and Feldman won the 200 freestyle relay (1:27.17) and Chung, Linde, Mangan and Feldman won the 400 freestyle relay (3:10.79).
Owen Lever was the top finisher for Central Bucks East, taking the silver in the 500 freestyle (4:50.27). The Patriots were fourth in team scoring (252).
Richard Mahoney of Central Bucks South finished second in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.88) for the top finish for the Titans. CB South finished fifth in team scoring (209).
Michael Timm of Pennridge led the Rams with third-place finishes in the 50 freestyle (21.75) and 100 butterfly (53.93). Pennridge was sixth in team scoring (200).
The SOL Liberty meet was at Upper Dublin. Senior Joshua Einolf of Quakertown won the 200 individual medley (1:57.51) and 100 butterfly (51.79). The Panthers were sixth in team scoring (114).
“I was hoping to win the IM and I dropped a lot more time than I expected,” he said. “I did a little taper but I’m not really tapered so I’m saving that for districts. I’m absolutely happy with those times. They’re much better than I expected, especially the IM.
“The other swimmers were telling me that with those times I definitely can makes states. At states I want to make finals, whether it’s the A or the B final.”
The District One championships will be held Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24, at the York YMCA’s Graham Natatorium. Diving will be held at North Penn’s Rick Carroll Natatorium on Thursday.
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