The DeSales swim team scored a win this past weekend over St Benedict's, 152-88, and thus set up an undefeated match up this coming Sunday against Christ the King for the Neumann Catholic League Division II title. Going into the meet with St Benedicts, the Knights learned that they had lost 9-10 swimmer Aidan Morgan for the rest of the season due to a broken knuckle on his left hand. As a result, the Knights were already spotting the rival team 21 team points that Morgan helped account for. The Knights were more then up for the challenge and when one Knight goes down, another takes his place and rises to the challenge.
This was obvious from the bleachers at the Koessler Center at Canisius College, the Knights were not going to be denied a win and took control of the meet winning all of the medley relays in each age division and never let off the throttle from that point forward.
The 8 and unders recorded a win in the 100 medley relay with Ava Achytl, Olivia Rongo, Henry Genewick, and William Swartz. Genewick and Swartz then both doubled up in individual races with Genewick winning the 25 and 50 freestyle and Swartz taking the 25 butterfly and 25 backstroke.
The 9-10 division was left with a void in the loss of Morgan, but again as stated before, when one Knight falls another or others take his place. This was the case with Cole Smith, Natalie Killion, and Henry Murphy filling that void. In the 200 medley relay, Killion teamed up with Elizabeth Kershaw, Gracie Cordle, and Elizabeth Swartz to score a first place and in the 200 free relay, Henry Murphy stepped up and teamed up with Kershaw, Cordle, and Killion to win that race. In individual races, Kershaw won the 100 IM, Killion the 50 butterfly, Smith in the 100 freestyle, Cordle in the 50 breaststroke.
The 11 and older division is starting to peak at the right time with swimmers recording personal bests at this meet. The older division swept both relays with Ashleigh Cottrell, Sam Murphy, Mark Crocker, and Bianca Franco winning the 200 medley relay and then also winning the 200 free relay with William Rahill teaming up with Murphy, Franco, and Crocker. In individual races, wins were recorded by Murphy won the 200 IM, Rahill in the 50 freestyle, Franco in the 50 butterfly, Crocker in the 100 freestyle, and Delaney Adams in the 50 breast.
With all the first place finishes, it was the 2nd and 3rd place finishes that helped the Knights secure the win. It was those swimmers that are not listed above that really rose to the occasion and helped score the team win.
The Knights now prepare this week and to face Christ the King for the Division title next Sunday again at the Koessler Center on the Canisius Campus.