Former Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern swimming standouts Madison Pechulis and Hope Johnsky competed against each other in high school in the Mum City.
The competition has continued in college, since both swim in the Little East Conference. Each has been an award-winning swimmer in the past few weeks. Pechulis, a senior at Keene State College in New Hampshire, was named LEC Swimmer of the Week on Dec. 9. Before Thanksgiving break, Johnsky, a sophomore at Western Connecticut State University, was named LEC Swimmer of the Week on Nov. 25.
Pechulis picked up a pair of top 10 times at the MIT Invitational, which spanned three days. Her times in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke events (1:06.96 and 2:30.49) were the fastest in the LEC this season as of Dec. 9.
Johnsky had six individual wins over two days as WCSU swept a pair of dual meets against Lehman and Maine Maritime. Her three wins against Lehman were highlighted by a personal-best time of 2:29.31 in the 200 individual medley. Johnsky won the same individual events both days, and they were the 200 IM, 50 breaststroke and 100 breaststroke. She was also the opening leg of each winning 200 medley relay teams.
Dathan Hickey, Yale University football
The former Bristol Central standout finished his freshman season with the Bulldogs as an Ivy League champion, not bad for the first year.
Hickey played in nine of Yale’s 10 games and made 25 total tackles (17 solo, 8 assisted). He intercepted three passes and had three pass break-ups. Hickey also recovered a fumble.
Hickey’s best game of the season came against Cornell, when he had six tackles (three solo, three assisted) and two interceptions.
RaShana Siders, American International College basketball
The former Holy Cross standout was the leading scorer for the Crusaders during her senior season of high school. History is repeating itself in her senior season at AIC.
Through eight games, Siders leads the Yellowjackets in scoring at 13.5 points per game. She is second in rebounds per game (5.5) and tied for second on the team in steals (9). Siders has started all eight games for AIC.
Siders’ best game to date came against Queens College (N.Y.), when she posted 21 points, including 5-of-7 on three-point attempts and 2-of-2 on free throws.
Ashley Elder, Southern New Hampshire University track and field
The former Bristol Central standout is now a graduate student at SNHU, and she is continuing her career in track and field as well.
Elder was named Field Athlete of the Week during the first week of indoor track and field competition, a position she has occupied numerous times. She won the shot put at the Emmanuel College Indoor Opener in Boston last Saturday.
Elder has been a solid student-athlete in competition and in the classroom. She was the top discus performer in the East Region in 2018, and in 2018-19, she was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District Team for NCAA Division II, District 1.
Headshots and statistics compiled from the college websites of each athlete.
