Swimmers from Neshaminy, Pennridge and Upper Merion are featured in this week’s notebook.
National Conference
Neshaminy’s Stay looking to finish strong - John Stay literally walked into becoming a swimmer..jpg)
“I really wanted to do a sport in high school but I really didn’t have one,” the senior captain at Neshaminy said. “I went into freshman orientation and there was a table set up and Brandon Segal, who was a team captain at the time, went right up to me and asked me if I had a sport.
“I told him I didn’t and he asked me if I wanted to join the swim team. I said ‘Yes’ and shook his hand. I got a call a couple of weeks later to start intramurals and it went from there.
“I swam with CORE (Neshaminy’s age group program) in the past so I knew how to swim, but I honestly hadn’t considered it until Brandon talked to me that day.
“I don’t know why he approached me or what he saw in me but I’ve been on the team since my freshman year and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made so I’m grateful to him.”
He is a proud member of the school record holding 400-yard freestyle relay team.
“It was a big goal to get that record and we did it,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll break it again at districts and we’d love to get to states.”
His individual event focus is the 100 butterfly.
“I’d love to get the school record in that and I’m about 1.1 seconds off of it,” he said. “I’m also focusing on the 100 freestyle. Those are my big events and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season and doing as well in those events as I possibly can.”
He hopes to go to Lehigh and major in chemical engineering.
Continental Conference
Pennridge’s Zurmuhl making most of final high school season - The Pennridge girls team made a splash at last year’s District One Class AAA meet and sent a large contingent to the PIAA meet.
Senior Hannah Zurmuhl was the oldest of that group and she realizes that success has upped the ante for the Rams.
“I definitely think there are higher expectations for us this year, but also think that no matter what happens we’re going to give our best effort and be proud of ourselves,” said Zurmuhl, who won the 50-yardfreestyle at last year’s district meet.
“We’ve been working hard and we’ve been getting great training from our coaches and we’re there to support each other so we’ll give it our best shot and whatever happens, happens.”
She will continue her swim career at Penn State but is undecided on a major.
“I definitely wanted a big school so Penn State was a good choice for me,” she said. “Also because I am undecided on a major there are so many choices for me so going to Penn State isn’t going to limit me academically.
“Of course I’m excited to swim there. The team is awesome and the coaches are so supportive of their swimmers so I think it will be a good situation for me. I’m a little nervous, but at the same time I’m really looking forward to it. It’ll be good for me to have a completely new environment. It’s time.”
She is a member of the National Honor Society.
“Swimming takes up so much of my time but I do enjoy doing things with the National Honor Society,” she said. “It’s my senior year and I want to do it right so I’m making a point of spending more time with my friends and doing some more outside activities when I can.”
American Conference
UM’s Wisniewski leaving her mark - For Kate Wisniewski, swimming is all about fun.
“My older siblings swam and they seemed like they were having so much fun and I wanted to join in,” said the
senior at Upper Merion. “I wanted to be just like my older brother and sister and I wanted to beat them too so one day I just jumped in and started doing freestyle and that’s how I found my passion.”
Last year she finished tied for 16th in the 50-yard freestyle at the District One Class AAA meet and also completed in the 100 freestyle.
“My freshman year I had the 43rd time in the district in the 50,” she said. “They only take 42 so I was cut. Every year since then I’ve made the automatic time to prove that I belonged there.”
Upper Merion doesn’t have the largest team, but Wisniewski isn’t concerned about that.
“Our team is small but we have a lot of spirit,” she said. “Everyone who’s here wants to be here and wants to swim and I’ll take that over a big team that isn’t as passionate every time. We have something special here.”
She swims year round but takes time off the in fall for soccer. This year she was a captain on the soccer team at Upper Merion.
“That was a lot of fun and it’s great cross training,” she said.
She is also the president of the service organization at Upper Merion and is the student representative on the school board.
“I’m very busy but it’s better that way,” she said. “I get a lot more done in a lot less time.”
She will attend Penn State and major in finance.
“I’m waiting to hear back from the honors college,” she said. “If I get in then I won’t swim in college but if I don’t then I’ll definitely try out for the team.”
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