The swimming team at Mount St. Joseph Academy secured its second win in the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies on Dec. 10, defeating visiting Merion Mercy Academy, 91-70.

In the meet at the Mount’s “home” venue at Arcadia University, the Magic built up a 91-33 lead with three events still remaining, but then stopped adding points to its official total despite the outcome in those later races.

The Mount had opened its 2025-26 season with a victory over Sacred Heart Academy.

Against the Merion Golden Bears, Mount St. Joe got off to a strong start in the 200-yard medley relay, coming away with an early 12-2 advantage in the meet scoring. Finishing first in a time of one minute, 59.51 seconds was the quartet of junior Grace Detwiler, sophomores Ava DiEnno and Sierra Martin, and senior Kelly McDonald. The runners-up, just a few seconds behind, were sophomore Kada McCottry, freshman Abby Farrell, sophomore Natalie Albertelli, and senior Maddie Dudley.

Dudley is a team captain this year, along with classmates Ava Downey and Layla Seward.

Next, the Magic swept the top three places in the 200 freestyle thanks to juniors Charli Schoen (first in 2:09.69) and Emma Gladulich, and freshman Cailyn McCarthy. Albertelli won the 200 individual medley in 2:25.96, leading another one-two-three finish for the host team. She was followed to the wall by Dudley and Farrell.

In the 50-yard freestyle, a time of 27.36 seconds wrapped up first place for Martin, and DiEnno came in second.

There was no diving competition in the middle of the meet; Mount St. Joseph has no divers on the roster this winter, and the Arcadia facility doesn’t have a board anyway.

It was in the next event, the 100 butterfly, that Merion earned its first individual victory, with sophomore Grace O’Driscoll clocking in at 1:02.66. The Mount’s Albertelli was second and Dudley was third.

Magic sophomore Lexi Schoen won the 100 free in 55.82, and McDonald was second. Schoen and her older sister, Charli, are graduates of Chestnut Hill’s Norwood Fontbonne Academy.

The longest race, the 500 free, produced another first-through-third result for the Magic. Downey won in 5:56.39, and the next two spots went to sophomore Alexa Zochoeski and McCarthy.

McDonald, DiEnno, McCottry and Dudley teamed up to win the 200 freestyle relay in 1:48.09. The Golden Bears claimed second place, and third went to the Magic’s Charli Schoen, sophomore Olivia Jaquinto, Martin and Detwiler.

At this point, Mount St. Joseph had an overall lead of 91-33, and after that the Magic did not accept any points in the meet scoring.

Off the record, the Magic’s Lexi Schoen posted the fastest time in the 100-yard backstroke (1:06.70) and her sister Charli was first to finish the 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.72). Also unofficially, the best time in the 400 freestyle relay (4:01.69) belonged to the Mount foursome of McCottry, Downey, Gladulich and Charli Schoen.