On Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, North Penn seniors Nick Clark & Max Bachman were recognized for committing to compete in swimming at the collegiate level. (Photos provided courtesy of North Penn High School/NPTV)
Max Bachman – West Chester University (Swimming)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: West Chester, Drexel, Delaware
Reasons for choosing West Chester: “There are a lot of things that are great about West Chester – definitely the integrity of the coaching staff, the drive of the team. As soon as I stepped on campus, I knew West Chester was the place for me.”
Favorite swimming memory: “I think it was one of the last meets of my freshman year when I got my first district cut to swim at districts and to eventually go on and swim at states. It was in the 500 freestyle. I hadn’t really been swimming distance that entire year, but coach Faikish put me in it. I don’t think anyone – myself included – expected me to do that well, but I got a district cut my second time trying it. I looked up, and everyone was cheering for me. I think that’s just cemented in my brain as the best memory North Penn could give me.”
Most important thing learned at North Penn: “There’s a lot of things I could say about my four years at North Penn, but I think, most importantly, I gained leadership skills and knowledge of both sports that I play – water polo and swimming. They make me a better person and a better athlete, so thank you, North Penn.”
Coach Jeff Faikish says: “I coach one of the local summer age group programs, so I’ve had the opportunity to coach Max throughout his entire career so far, which presents a unique experience for both of us. Max is an extremely hardworking athlete. He’s one of those kids that’s unique. He swims a distance event, and a lot of people are scared of that, so they want to stay away, but Max has a unique inner drive. He also has the ability to push himself beyond his own limits. The easiest thing for me to do for him as a coach is to point and say, ‘Just go faster,’ and he can do it. He’s had a phenomenal career so far, and I’m looking forward to seeing what this year presents. Some of his highlights from last year – he finished seventh in the 200 free (at the state meet), 13th in the 500 free, and he was part of our third place 400 free relay.”
Nick Clark – Brown University (Swimming)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: Brown, Boston College, UNC-Wilmington
Reasons for choosing Brown: “When I first started reaching out to colleges, what set apart Brown most were the coaches. It wasn’t as much as I was trying to pry information from them and reaching out to them and getting nothing in return, but they seemed really interested in me. It was a
really good mutualistic relationship that I had with them, and it made communication really easy. I had a chance to visit Providence, and it’s a really beautiful area as well as the school. The swimming facility there is great, and obviously, the academics at Brown are something I couldn’t pass up. That’s the basis of my decision.”
Favorite swimming memory: “Last year at states, we weren’t able to finish our competition (because of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown), but on the second day, we did have prelims, and after plateauing in one of my best events for the past two years, I finally was able to break that time, and I was just overcome with joy at that moment. After prelims, we were informed that finals would be cancelled because of COVID, and it was really a bittersweet moment because I was so proud of everything I’d accomplished during the season, both in my relay and my individual (event) that came to fruition at the end. But then to hear that finals were cancelled, some of my teammates – some of my closest friends that were seniors – wouldn’t get a chance to finish out their high school careers as a swimmer. We had big aspirations involving the relay that night as well, and also, I wanted to see what I could do at finals. Even though it was a great moment when I was able to accomplish what I’d worked so long all season for, it was really bittersweet to share that moment with some of my teammates who were just as sad as I was that the season came to an end in such an abrupt fashion.”
Most important thing learned at North Penn: “The team is really the best part of my life here at North Penn. It’s extremely inclusive. I was new to North Penn in ninth grade, and being new to a school is not the most comfortable thing, but being able to swim every single day after school with some of my closest friends, a sport that I love to do, it made the stress of being new to a school so much easier. During my time at North Penn, I’ve really just become so comfortable in my environment. I would give that totally to swimming.”
Coach Jeff Faikish says: “Some brief highlights from last year about Nick’s accomplishments – he was 10th in the 200 free, he was part of our 200 free state champion relay, he was fourth in the 200 breaststroke, and he would have been on our 400 freestyle relay as well if we were able to finish the championships. In the middle of state championships, the officials gathered at mid-pool, and the state championships were cancelled at that point, and the meet ended.
“One of the interesting strengths of Nick is overcoming adversity. He does have a heart condition, and as a result, he had some ups and downs throughout his career. My everlasting moment of Nick will be when he finished his 100 breaststroke at prelims last year. He threw both arms up in the air, almost like he had overcome everything. It didn’t even matter where he placed at the end of the night – he accomplished one of his goals. I coached him at a lot of big meets, and I’m super excited for him to have a wonderful experience at Brown.”
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