This week’s notebook highlights swimmers from Neshaminy and Central Bucks West.
National Conference
Korenstein and Redskins on rise - Justin Korenstein is something of an unsung hero.
The senior has been a mainstay on the Neshaminy roster for four years but hasn’t really gotten much recognition.
Despite that he has been a big part of the team’s growth.
“Our team has gotten so much bigger,” he said. “This year we have a really big team and that’s going to help us.”
One addition has been Steven Keashon. Now a junior, he is a standout swimmer in the conference.
“At practice I try to keep up with Keashon,” he said. “He’s a really good swimmer.”
It takes a true team player to turn that situation into a positive.
“He pushes me in practice and I try to push him,” Korenstein said. “We both get something out of it. The important thing is that we all improve.
“All the guys are coming together, and everyone knows when to turn it on and everyone’s stepping up. It’s really been amazing to watch this team grow and to be a part of it. I’m really looking forward to districts this year. That’s always such a great meet and a great experience and I’m really interested to see what we can do.”
Korenstein was a District One Class AAA qualifier in four events last year, competing in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 butterfly and the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.
He would like to swim in college and his top choices are Susquehanna or Bloomsburg. He is considering majors in either education or physical therapy.
Continental Conference
Future bright for Colburn and Bucks - The Central Bucks West boys team is small in numbers but big in talent.
The future is even brighter.
“We don’t have too many people on our team this year but I think next year we’re going to have more,” junior Winston Colburn said. “I know a couple of people who we’ll be getting that will really help so I think that’s really going to be our year.”
For this year, the Bucks are doing the best with what they have.
“We practice really hard and we’re always competing with each other and we’re focused on individual wins and personal best times,” Colburn said.
The Continental is a very competitive conference in swimming.
“Being in a good league challenges you and it pushes you a lot farther than you might otherwise have gone,” Colburn said. “The wins we do get mean a lot to us because they’re so hard fought.”
His personal goal is to get back to the District One Class AAA meet.
“I’d like to make it in the 100 freestyle and the 50 freestyle,” said Colburn, who plays baseball and basketball outside of school. “It’s going to be a lot harder this year so it’ll be tough.”
Colburn would like to swim in college but hasn’t made a choice yet.
“We’ll see how it goes,” he said. “I know college swimming is a lot of work but I think it would be rewarding.
“Right now I’m focused on this year but I’m also excited about next year. I think we’re going to be better and I can’t wait to see what we can do.”
American Conference
Fisher makes immediate impact - It’s a rebuilding year for the Plymouth Whitemarsh girls team.
And Sarah Fisher is hoping she will be one of the building blocks.
The freshman is already off to a fast start.
Fisher posted a nifty 1:14.70 to win the 100-yard breaststroke in a 106-72 nonleague loss at Council Rock North on Friday, Jan. 4.
“I started crying,” Fisher said. “It was ridiculous. It was my best time of the year. I dropped about two seconds off my best time.
“I guess all those holiday practices really helped a lot. This was our first meet after the break, and it was nice to swim in a meet again.”
She is primarily a breaststroker but also swims the 200 individual medley.
“I’ll swim a little 50 freestyle and some butterfly,” she said. “Wherever the team needs me, that’s where I’ll swim.”
The Colonials have been struggling in the won-loss column but Fisher is optimistic.
“We lost a lot of good seniors, but we’re working on building it up again,” she said. “I’m hoping to be a part of it.”
Class AAA qualifying times for the District One Class AAA meet are faster this year than they have been in the past. The breaststroke consideration time is 1:13.10 and the automatic is 1:10.93, so Fisher needs to drop more time in order to get to the district meet, but she will not need to qualify for the conference championships.
“I wasn’t even thinking about championships, but I’m sure I’ll be going for the breaststroke because that’s my specialty,” she said. “My goal is to beat the school record, which is a 1:09. I think that’s doable for me.”
Fisher also plays volleyball for the Colonials.
“Swimming is my main sport, but I’m very competitive in volleyball,” she said.
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