Swimmers from William Tennent, Pennridge & Cheltenham are highlighted in this week’s notebook.
National Conference
Tennent’s Battis aims high - Shannon Battis doesn’t set goals for herself anymore.
The William Tennent senior has realized that she needs to take a different approach.
“I don’t really set goals for myself because I’ve found that when I do that I psych myself out,”Battis said. “It’s better if I just focus on working hard every day and just giving it everything I’ve got in practice and in races.”
That plan has been working for her.
“I definitely wanted to make the district cut at the beginning of the season so I wouldn’t have to worry about making a cut time and I wouldn’t have to taper at champs,” she said. “I did that so now I can just focus on training and swimming.”
Battis has made the District One Class AAA automatic cut in the 500-yard freestyle. She is close in the 200 freestyle and has the consideration time in the 200 individual medley.
Her goal at the district meet is to break the school record in the 500 freestyle, currently a 5:15.37set by Meghan Forlini in 2009.
Forlini, the daughter of head coach Lisa Forlini and assistant Jamie Forlini, is now an assistant coach with the program herself.
“Meghan really wants me to get it and she’s been very encouraging and so have her parents,” Battis said. “I still have a lot to drop but if I push myself I think I can do it.”
She plans to major inn ursing and is interested in going to La Salle, where Meghan Forlini went.
“She got me interested in going there,” Battis said. “I know it will be difficult to balance swimming and a difficult major but I’m ready for the challenge.”
Continental Conference
Pennridge's Jordan is district bound - Eric Jordan is bona fide proof that with patience, determination and plain old hard work you can be successful.
The Pennridge junior made the District One Class AAA automatic time in the 100-yard butterfly in the last dual meet of the season, posting a time of 54.26. The cut time is 55.03.
“It’s definitely great to get into districts,” he said. “Last year I only made the consideration time and I didn’t get in. I’m very excited and looking forward to it. It’s going to be a faster meet with more people and I can’t wait to see how I do there.
“It’s an honor to go to districts and I don’t take it lightly and I’m really happy I made the cut time during the regular season. Now I’m in so I don’t have to worry about getting the time at champs. If I get a better time, great, if not, I’m still in.”
Jordan started swimming at age eight, following older brother Alex who wanted to become a lifeguard.
At first, butterfly was his worst stroke.
“I hated it,” he said. “It was the last thing I wanted to do. But then when I was in the 10-12 age group they put me in the 25-yard butterfly and I did really well. I learned from the YMCA coach how to actually swim it correctly and obviously that was the key.”
He hasn’t chosen a college or major yet, but is pondering a major in either psychology or chemistry.
“It’s hard to decide what to major in,” he said. “But it would be wonderful to swim in college. “
American Conference
Guthy excels for Panthers – It’s a good thing that Olivia Guthy hated running.
If she had enjoyed it, then the Cheltenham freshman would never have discovered swimming.
“I tried soccer and a few other sports but I didn’t like running so I decided to give swimming a try,” Guthy said.
She has now been swimming for nine years and is enjoying her first year on the varsity.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” she said. “I knew a lot of the people on the team from CAC (Cheltenham Aquatic Club) so that made it very comfortable for me.”
She is in the position of being one of the better swimmers on the team despite being a freshman.
“It’s a little awkward, but for the most part it’s been fine,” she said. “My teammates definitely help me by pushing me and making me work harder.”
She is poised to swim in her first conference championship meet. Her individual events will be the 200 and 500 freestyles. She will also swim the backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay and be on the 400 freestyle relay.
After the league meet, she will move on to the District One Class AAA meet, where she will again swim the 200 and 500 freestyles.
“If I don’t swim well at districts, I’ll be disappointed,” she said. “I want to get to states and to do that you have to do well at districts.”
She would like to swim in college but has not started the selection process yet. She isn’t sure of a major, but her favorite subject is science.
She sees a bright future or Cheltenham.
“I’m very excited for the future,” she said. “We’re losing a lot of seniors but we have a lot of new swimmers coming up. Next year I’m hoping to take a little bit more of a leadership role since I’ll have some experience.”
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