Swimming

The 2022 Swim Team

By. Emily Montanaro

Starting late December, the school’s varsity swim team has been hard at work practicing every day after school. Starting from 3 - 4:30 pm, the group practices every school day of the week. This year’s team is currently being coached by Jenna Grove as well as assistant helper, Michelle Paronish. Both the boys and girls team have competed in five total meets thus far, though not without a few bumps along the way. Since the start of the season, the team has had four meets postponed. Despite this, the group of students have kept practicing each and every day, eager to improve at their competitions.

The seniors for this year’s team are Ethan Miller and Makaila Work. Ethan has been a member of the swim team for all four years of high school. His future plans are to attend college in pursuit of a STEM related major. Makaila has also been on the school’s team for four years and will be attending Saint Francis University to become an Occupational Therapist. When asked questions about their favorite aspects of the swimming sport, the two were eager to answer:

¨ My favorite part of swimming is the early swim days first thing in the morning. This season Tim [Basset] and I were allowed to swim a relay even without the other two members needed. It was a close race against Altoona. This was probably our best meet.¨ - Ethan Miller

¨My favorite part about swimming is the friendships you make when you spend every day with your teammates. Swimming reminds me of family. When you're competing in a race your teammates are at the end of the lane, or side of the pool cheering you on. Even the people from opposite teams will cheer you on and it gives you a reassuring feeling that you can complete your event. I, myself, at every meet have to remind myself while swimming my distance events that I can do it, and that I have done it multiple times, and the people being there to cheer you on makes you want to complete that event because after the event is over you feel really good about yourself and your performance. Everyone is super supportive of one another.

My favorite moment from this season is being able to go to practice and have fun. When at swimming I am able to socialize and bond with my teammates. We can all have fun and practice at the same time. Sometimes at the end of practice, we will play water polo on the deep end of the pool. The first time we played this season the captains got to choose who they wanted on their team. I chose Tim Basset and let's just say it was funny to watch him and Ethan Miller fight over the ball.

My best meet was our home meet against Hollidaysburg. I dropped 20 seconds in my 200-yard freestyle and 27 seconds in my 500-yard freestyle. I'm almost back down to my personal record that I had my sophomore season of swimming. When I sat down on the bench after my event, Coach Grove told me how proud she is of me. At this past Thursday's practice, Mrs.Paronish was telling me how I swam both my events with just mainly the upper body. Dropping 27 seconds in the longest distance event shocked me. I am hoping to beat my personal record at senior night. ¨ -Makaila Work.

The team also has two new freshman members. When asked about joining the school’s swim team for their first year of highschool, the freshman, Bell Janosko and Augusta Litzinger, answered:

¨I decided to join the swim team because my older siblings were on the team and I would always go to their meets and that is what sparked my interest and I also just enjoy swimming in general. What I love most about competitive swimming is the adrenaline and excitement you get when you are swimming in a race.¨ - Belle Janosko.

¨I have always wanted to join the swim team ever since my cousin taught me how to swim when I was 4 years old. I also love to swim so I thought it would be the perfect sport for me. I think the part I love the most about it is the support that the team and the couch gives me and the team. Another thing that I love about it is that when we are at a meet, it's not really against other people, it's against yourself.¨ - Augusta Litzinger

The swim team currently has eight members on its team, but with two senior members graduating, next year's rosters may be shorter. Though, the team has the chance to become larger with the incoming freshmen class and other high school students who may be interested in joining the successful team. Junior member, Mary Kudlawiec, agreed that she is optimistic about next year’s season.

¨I hope that next year our team grows, and that we can continue to grow as a friend group and large team!¨