Ragoowansi brothers help Quaker Valley swimming to victories
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Monday, January 29, 2018 | 11:00 PM
After living out of state for a year, junior Kieran Ragoowansi is back contributing to the Quaker Valley boys swimming team, with a relative in tow.
Ragoowansi has qualified for the WPIAL Class AA championship meet in March in the 100-yard freestyle (53.22 seconds), 200 freestyle (1 minute, 59.25 seconds) and 500 freestyle (5:27.87). He made the cut in all those events, as well as the 50 freestyle (24.95), for the Midwestern Athletic Conference championship Feb. 10.
His brother, Aidan, a freshman, has reached the MAC championship in the 200 individual medley (2:30.87) and 100 breaststroke (1:15.49).
Both boys, who live in Sewickley Heights, attend Sewickley Academy, but compete for Quaker Valley as part of a cooperative sponsorship.
The siblings moved to North Carolina in the summer of 2016 after their father, a physician, got a job there.
Quaker Valley coach Erin Cawley said the Quakers, who are 5-0, were excited to have Kieran Ragoowansi back.
“His presence has helped us score some big wins, keep our undefeated streak (alive) and make up for some of the members we lost (from) last year,” she said.
Ragoowansi competed in two events individually and on a relay team at the 2016 WPIAL championship, where the Quakers won their second of three WPIAL titles in a row.
“It feels great to be back,” said Ragoowansi, who swam for a high school in Charlotte last season. “I know the swimmers, and got to meet the new coach Erin, who keeps us where we need to be.”
Cawley expects Aidan Ragoowansi to improve.
“He is involved in club swimming and often puts in two-a-days (of training),” she said.
The younger Ragoowansi enjoys swimming with his brother.
“It gives me someone to look up to and motivate me to keep swimming and get better,” he said.
The siblings followed their brother on the team.
Evan Ragoowansi earned three gold medals in relay events at the 2015 and 2016 WPIAL championship meets, and helped lead the Quakers to the 2015 PIAA crown.
Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.
Tags: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy
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