SuburbanOneSports.com recognizes a male and female featured athlete each week. The awards, sponsored by Univest, are given to seniors of good character who are students in good standing that have made significant contributions to their teams Selections are based on nominations received from coaches, athletic directors and administrators.
Univest's SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Female Athlete (Week of Feb. 8, 2012)
Alexis Detweiler is in a class by herself...both literally and figuratively. When the Pennridge boys and girls swimming teams celebrated Senior Night on Friday, Detweiler was the lone swimmer recognized. The two-year captain is the only senior on either team. “My philosophy has always been, I've done it the last three years, why wouldn't I swim again,” she said. “I like swimming and I like being part of the team.” It's that attitude, as well as the way she handles herself as a leader, that also made Detweiler one-of-a-kind. “Alexis is able to combine excelling herself but also getting those around her to excel as well,” said coach Ryan Griffiths. “One of the things I think she's learned as a two-year captain is that type of servant leadership where you're not always going to be the best at something, but you're going to have to lead by example, and there are going to be times where you have to hold your teammates accountable, you're going to have to get them motivated, you're going to have to get them on board, you're going to have to get them to think and act the way you do to excel. She's handled her position very well.”
A four-year varsity swimmer, Detweiler – who also plays for the water polo team and outfield for the softball team – has made three trips to districts as a member of a relay team, but swimming is just part of the equation where the senior captain is concerned. “Alexis is a prototypical role model,” Griffiths said. “She knows how to be a leader, and that's something you can't really coach, you either have it or you don't.”
Detweiler will head off to West Chester University in the fall where she will pursue a nursing degree. Due to the time-consuming nature of her major, she will not be swimming at the collegiate level. “It really hasn't hit me yet, but I'm sure I'll miss it a lot because I have been involved with three sports every year, and I have played sports since I was five years old,” Detweiler said. “For right now, I want to make sure the team continues to get better and people learn from their experiences and want to get better as individuals as well as helping the team out.” Griffiths believes that Detweiler has helped the team more than she may ever know. “When she goes to college, she's going to be a very genuine and contributing individuals,” the Rams' coach said. “She's going to make her mark.”
To read Detweiler's complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/alexis-detweiler
Univest's SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of Feb. 8, 2012)
Kevin Soong was a sometimes reluctant swimmer as a youngster growing up..The Upper Merion senior has grown to not only excel at the sport, but it also has become his passion. He has competed in districts in each of the last two years in the 50 and 100 freestyle. This year Soong has already qualified for districts in five of eight individual events as well as all three relays. His work ethic and leadership have made him an invaluable member of the Vikings' squad. “Kevin is constantly leading, constantly watching out for his teammates,” coach Bruce Eppinger said. “Many times I have to go off and talk to the other coaches or I have to pull swimmers aside to talk to them, and Kevin will actually run the entire dryland training. Many times when we go to meets, he will run the warm-up for the entire boys and girls teams or work with the captains of the girls team to run it. He's really stepped up this year. He's the kind of swimmer you really look for in a captain.”
If Soong were only a swimmer, he would be quite accomplished, but he also excels in the classroom. This year he is enrolled in all AP classes – six total, opting to double up on math and sciences. According to Eppinger, Soong's intelligence also comes into play in the pool. “It's neat when you get kids like Kevin who get it,” the Vikings' coach said. “He understands what needs to be done, and he'll do it many times before I ask him to do it.” This year, Soong added a new event – the 200 free – to his repertoire after two years of focusing mainly on sprints. “The first time he swam the 200 freestyle this year he qualified for districts immediately,” Eppinger said.
Soong, who also competes in water polo, has been contacted by several schools who are interested in his swimming talents, but he is uncertain whether or not he will continue his career at the collegiate level. His top priority is pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering. Although his packed academic and athletic schedule does not allow for much spare time, Soong has gone on mission trips with his church to Taiwan to hold camps in each of the past two summers.
To read Soong's complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/kevin-soong
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