The North Penn girls swim team recently captured the District One AAA title. It is the Maidens’ first district title since 2007.
By Mary Jane Souder
Looking for the definition of team effort – look no further than the North Penn Maidens’ impressive run to a District One AAA title.
The Maidens didn’t capture any individual gold medals but won three relays – the 200 free, 400 free and 200 medley. They also had more than a few swimmers contributing points en route to the decisive win.
“In all honesty, it was a team effort,” coach Matt Weiser said.
The Maidens’ coach pointed to changes in the team’s training as a key.
“In years past, the girls had a practice time and the boys had a practice time,” Weiser said. “This year we made everyone in one group and really made it a total team effort.
“We’re not a girls team, we’re not a boys team. We’re North Penn swimming and diving. I think that’s what ultimately led to some of our girls swimming faster, just training with our boys. Our boys got faster swimming with the girls, and just our overall team spirit was awesome.”
While the Maidens didn’t have any individual winners at districts, junior Tara Rogers certainly turned in a stellar showing, finishing second in both the 200 free and 500 free. She also was part of two gold medal relay teams.
“I could sit here for hours and not come up with one thing that girl does wrong,” Weiser said. “She’s no question a leader as a junior. Even though she doesn’t have that captain title, I think she is one that people overall as a team look up to the most.
“I can’t think of anything she does wrong. She works as hard as anybody in the pool, out of the pool. She’s always here on time. She’s just your ideal athlete, somebody you wish you had 30 of.”
Rogers swam the first leg of the Maidens’ 400 free relay that broke the meet record of 3:30.06 set in 2011 by Council Rock North with a time of 3:29.33.
“She started it off with a bang as the leadoff,” Weiser said.
Rogers was joined on that team by Olivia DiStefano, Erin O’Neill and Emily Kosten.
“I think we knew we were capable of doing that, but we didn’t go in looking to do that,” Rogers said. “We just kind of wanted to get a good place to set us up for states.
“We definitely didn’t expect to do that time,” DiStefano added. “We haven’t done that time. We have been close, but it’s amazing we were able to do that.
“I was just hoping to get first, so coming out with that time was fantastic.”
Making that performance even more impressive was the fact that the Maidens had already won the meet before that race.
“You knew if it was close it could come down to that relay, and we wanted to make sure we had a strong enough relay to compete where we wanted to and finish on top,” Weiser said. “At that point, we could have false started that relay and still won the meet.”
Rogers, DiStefano, O’Neill and Eve Kosten comprised the Maidens’ golden 200 medley relay squad, and the 200 free relay that finished first included Eve and Emily Kosten, DiStefano and O’Neill.
What is the key to the Maidens’ success in the relays?
“We just have really good depth on our team, so each person on our relay is able to contribute,” Rogers said. “It’s not just four people – we have backup people, and if we lose one person, we would still be fine.
“Everyone is able to contribute. It’s a team effort.
Team chemistry, according to the swimmers, is also key.
“You definitely have to know each person on the team,” DiStefano said. “There’s a close bond between each relay, which helps even more to get to that place.”
“The fact that we’re so close and know each other so well, it makes it easy,” Kat Perkins said.
Individually, Emily Kosten finished second in the 100 free and Eve Kosten, who finished sixth, also qualified for states. Emily Kosten also finished third in the 200 free while Eve Kosten was third in the 50 free. DiStefano finished sixth in the 100 back and also qualified for states in that event. “
“We weren’t coming in expecting to win districts,” Perkins said. “We just took it meet by meet, and we did really well.
“I was thinking it would be cool if we won, but if we didn’t, it would be okay. The fact that we won was just awesome.”
“I definitely didn’t think we could win,” DiStefano said. “Coming out winning was a big shock to me.”
The Maidens, who returned the nucleus of last year’s squad, established the fact that they were a team to beat during the regular season. They did not have one close dual meet all year and cruised to a Continental Conference title at the league meet.
“We always have our sights set on districts,” Rogers said. “But we weren’t looking at that at the beginning of the season.
“Going into districts, I think we knew we were in a really good place. We were all seeded really well. Once we reached districts, everyone was having great swims and really good time drops. We all contributed, and we all we were able to score points.”
The swimmers point to hard work and dedication as keys to their success as well.
“You have to love it,” DiStefano said. “You can’t just be like, ‘Oh, swimming, I like that,’ and think you’re going to win. You have to really enjoy it.”
The Maidens will take seven swimmers and two divers to this week’s state meet at Bucknell. Their accomplishments at states will be icing on the cake in what has been a memorable season.
“At this point, I think the district championship was a big accomplishment for our team, since it was the first one in six years,” Weiser said. “Especially with this group of kids, that was a big one for them.
“If we go to states, drop time, swim fast and the kids have a blast – I think my expectations are met. Whether we finish third, fourth, fifth or 20th, as long as they swim well and have a blast, I could care less.”
What kind of goals do the swimmers have?
“To do our best,” DiStefano said.
“We’re just really excited to see what we can do,” Rogers added.
It should be an interesting state meet for the young Maidens.
- Log in to post comments
