The first notebook of the 2012-13 swimming season features swimmers from Neshaminy, CB South and Upper Dublin.
National Conference
Caruso prepared to lead - Natalie Caruso is looking at the big picture.
The senior captain at Neshaminy knows that her team’s success won’t necessarily be seen in the won-loss column.
“The girls’ team goal is going to be different than our boys goal,” she said. “The boys are going to try to make a push upward in the league this year but the girls aren’t looking to do that.
“Our team goal is for each girl to swim her best and improve as much as possible. If we can do that, then we’ll have met our expectations for the year.
“I’m anxious to see how far we can push ourselves.”
The Redskins have a smaller girls team than in past years.
“I do miss the big group but we’re very tight-knit, and we all have the common goal of wanting to improve not only for ourselves but for the team,” Caruso said. “We don’t have one big star on our team, but that’s a good thing because everyone has that opportunity to be the star on any given day.”
She is excited to be a team captain this year.
“It is more pressure for me but I don’t think it’s hard to communicate,” Caruso said. “Everyone on the team is friendly and has a good attitude, and it’s very nice to have all these people who are so positive and so ready to do what is asked of them.
“I don’t have to lead them that much. They just do what they need to do and all I do is just more or less give them an outline. They get it.
“We really are all on the same page and that’s what is going to make this a good season, no matter what our record is.”
Continental Conference
Patriots can rely on Nickerson - Stephanie Nickerson is ready for anything.
The senior captain for Central Bucks South swims a lot of races; the 200 individual medley, the distance freestyle events, the 100 backstroke.
Last year she even filled in at breaststroke for coach Kevin Murray.
“She’s definitely someone I can rely on,” he said.
The Titans began the year with a pair of nonleague wins over Abington and Wissahickon.
“Right away I could see we had a lot of new people,” Nickerson said. “Everyone got to work right away, and we’ve had a lot of improvement.”
She was a freshman when older brother Matt, a diver, was on the team, and now she is the senior and younger brother Nash, also a diver, is a freshman.
“It was nice to have that one year of being Matt’s teammate and now I have the same with Nash,” she said. “Nash is doing so well. I’m really proud of him.”
The Titans have an active schedule outside the pool, with things like a cookie swap, holiday break sleepover, movie night and dance party planned for the team.
“It’s important to have a lot of fun things like that to help the team get closer,” Nickerson said. “Also a lot of the people on our team now have younger siblings who are probably watching and trying to decide if they want to make the commitment to high school swimming.
“I want them to see how much fun it is and how close we are and want to be a part of this.”
The Titans compete in the very competitive Continental Conference.
“It’s a tough league but one of the things I love about it is that everyone is so friendly,” Nickerson said. “There’s such great sportsmanship. When I finish a race, the girl in the lane always congratulates me whether I finished a few seconds behind her or a few seconds ahead of her.”
Nickerson hasn’t chosen a college yet but would like to major in biology with an eye toward becoming a veterinarian.
American Conference
Cardinals flying high - The Upper Dublin boys team has set about their defense of the District One Class AAA team title in style.
The Cardinals won their first two meets of the year. They bested District Three’s Wilson and District One rival Council Rock North in a battle of two SOL defending champions, with Upper Dublin having won the American Conference crown last year while CR North won the National.
Upper Dublin senior Charlie McLemore thinks the young season is full of promise.
“It’s really exciting to have this good a start, and this is only the beginning,” he said. “We still have a long way to go but our team is only going to get better as we go along.
“It’s a great feeling to have won both meets. They were against very fast teams and that shows a lot.”
The defending district champs know they have a target on their backs.
“Everyone’s out to get us,” McLemore said. “You can’t help but notice it but that’s what happens when you win the district. It’s still a good place to be in and having everyone swim their best against us brings out the best in us.”
The Cardinals have a new head coach in Geoff Scheuer.
“The coaches are working us hard and we feel good about the district this year,” McLemore said.
McLemore’s personal goal this year is to reach the PIAA Class AAA meet in his specialty, the 100-yard breaststroke.
“That’s what I’m targeting this year,” he said. “I’m probably going to swim club in college, so this is my last big huzzah and I want to make the most of it.
“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season; I think a lot of good stuff is still to come.”
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