All-Delco Swimming: For Hart and Boratto, camaraderie is reward enough

HAVERFORD >> In her stellar career, Maddie Hart has collected accolades aplenty — medals, records, trophies, All-American recognition. She’s raced the best talents in one of the country’s deepest veins of swimming excellence, establishing her place within that hierarchy. But after four years at Haverford High, through eight states medals including two golds and three silvers, she reserves the warmest memories for something much less tangible.

“I don’t really remember any of my times throughout the year or what places I’ve finished,” Hart said. “I remember having an amazing team. I honestly don’t remember a single race, but I’ll always remember after the race, being able to hug my teammates or having my coach Matt (Stewart) give me a huge high five and have a smile on his face. That’s what makes me really proud.

“When I think back to states memories, hugging my teammates and high-fiving my team after races is the one thing that stands out.” Hart’s history is well chronicled. The youngest of four swimming siblings, Hart burst on to the scene as a freshman. Records and medals have followed at a steady pace, and the tide didn’t slow this season. She won a District One Class AAA title in a district record time in the 100 butterfly, then finished runner-up to Pennridge’s Brittany Weiss in the 100 backstroke, knocking her out of contention for the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet honor that she garnered as a junior.

At states, Hart rose to the occasion once again, dashing her Delco mark by winning the 100 fly in 53.35, an automatic All-American time. To illustrate how fast her career has been, consider that until 2014 the 100 fly Delco record had held since 1985 at 56.90 seconds, set by Garnet Valley’s Jen Ritins. Two EA swimmers (McKenzie Street and Emily Rhodes) have claimed the record for brief periods, but no one has lowered it as drastically as Hart.

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Haverford’s Maddie Hart wrapped up her stellar scholastic career with awards galore, but she prizes the time she spent with teammates and coaches above any medals or trophies. (Times File)