Bensalem, CB East and Upper Moreland swimmers/divers are featured in this week’s notebook.
National Conference
Leaman beats the odds - Alyssa Leaman’s parents were told that she’d never be able to participate in sports.
The Bensalem senior has proven that to be incorrect.
“I was born with double hip dysplasia,” she said. “I’ve already had about eight surgeries.”
One sport she can do is swimming.
“I just fell in love with it,” she said. “It’s like therapy for me.”
She is now a team captain and has seen a lot of changes in her four years with the program.
“The team is smaller now, probably because we have to swim at the middle school instead of the high school, “she said. “But we still have really good people who are dedicated and hard workers. That hasn’t changed.
“I’m not about winning and I don’t race other people so much as I race myself. It’s all about doing my best and encouraging everyone on the team to do their best. If we do that, then we win in the end.”
Leaman plays the violin in the orchestra and was in the marching band color guard when she twisted awkwardly and fractured her back two years ago.
“I didn’t miss any swim time because it happened in the summer,” she said.
She would like to become a veterinarian and plans to begin that quest at Bucks County Community College.
“I’m going to miss swimming,” she said. “Swimming has done a lot of me. I don’t know where I’d be without it.”
Continental Conference
Kooser leads Patriots - Kendall Kooser takes swimming seriously.
So much so that the Central Bucks East senior captain has missed exactly two practices in four years.
“I want to be there,”Kooser said. “I want to be dedicated.”
She was pleasantly surprised to be voted a captain by her teammates.
“It’s a big honor,” she said. “I was shocked and very happy. It is a big responsibility, though. You have to help with dryland and do a lot of things.”
On a team noted for its depth, Kooser stands out for her work ethic and desire to help out the team by swimming a variety of events.
Over time, she settled into the 500-yard freestyle.
“Coach (Tom Kane) put me in it and I did really well,” she said. “Then I swam it again and I took about five seconds off my time and he said ‘I think we’ve found your event’ and I’ve been swimming it ever since.”
A member of the National Honor Society, she hopes to major in chemistry and become a pharmacist. Right now her top college choice is Ohio State, but she is waiting to hear from North Carolina.
“It’s a little sad that swimming is going to be over for me soon,” she said. “I’ve had so much fun. It’s really been all about the friendships. I’ve known these girls for years and we’ve become so close.”
She is also a volunteer coach for the Special Olympics.
“I love doing that,” she said. “It’s so much fun and it’s a great organization.”
American Conference
Wilcox puts name in record books - The Upper Moreland boys team fell to host William Tennent in a non-
league double dual meet, 103-82, but the Golden Bears did have a big highlight.
Senior diver Dan Wilcox broke the school record for six dives with his score of 317.20 points.
The previous mark of 311was set in 1972 by Bruce Knipe.
Wilcox is a two-time state qualifier for Upper Moreland and made it to the finals in both appearances. Last year he finished 15th at the PIAA Class AA meet with a score of 340.75 over 11 dives.
He was the 2014 District One Class AA runner-up (403.00) and was also the second place finisher at the SOL American Conference meet (444.30).
In 2013, Wilcox finished13th at the PIAA meet (331.15). He was second at the District One meet (395.85) and second at the SOL American Conference meet (390.25).
Knipe was inducted into the Upper Moreland Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
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