On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, North Penn seniors Anna Evans & Eva Welsh were recognized for committing to continue their swimming careers at the collegiate level.
Anna Evans – West Chester University (Swimming)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: West Chester, Penn State
Reasons for choosing West Chester: “After I visited West Chester, I realized that was the only place I would truly be happy, and I see myself being the most successful.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in swimming at the collegiate level? “For a while, I didn’t want to swim in college, but I feel as though this year was our first normal year back, and I feel like I was able to regain control of my feelings about the sport, and I realized it’s the only thing that would make me truly happy in college.”
Coach Jeff Faikish says: “Anna Evans is one of those unique athletes that comes across a team every so often. She’s unique in the way that she has the ability to adapt to so many situations that come her way. As a senior on the water polo team, Anna was one of the most important players on our team. She was the person that was targeted by every other team that if you could try to shut down Anna Evans, maybe you’d have a chance to beat North Penn. It was similar to her ability in swimming. As a younger athlete, she came into our program, and she had the ability to swim many, many different events. Throughout her career, she was able to find events each year to be the most successful athlete she could be. She started out as a younger athlete swimming the 500. This year she did the 200 IM and the 100 backstroke, and she became one of our top swimmers in the backstroke, leading our medley relays and then also performing at states in the 100 backstroke as well. She’s a consistent leader on the team through example both her practice habits and her ability to bolster the spirit of the team regardless of what was happening throughout the day. West Chester is going to be very, very excited to have this athlete on their team.”
About Anna:
Favorite food: Mac ‘n Cheese
Favorite TV show: Anything true crime
Favorite music: 80s Rock
Eva Welsh – University of Maine (Swimming)
Major: Nursing
Final list of colleges: Maine, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Wagner, Duquesne
Reasons for choosing Maine: “I decided on the University of Maine because I really liked the overall school spirit and how the team and the coaches interacted with each other.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in swimming at the collegiate level? “The end of my junior year I had to decide whether I wanted to be an athlete in college, and I can’t imagine not swimming in college.”
Coach Jeff Faikish says: “Eva Welsh is the type of athlete that is a coach’s dream. She possesses the characteristics and qualities that coaches of any sport would love to have on their team – she’s a hard worker, dedicated, resilient. She has the ability to overcome adversity. At one point in time at North Penn, she was a three-sport athlete, all of them in aquatics. She played water polo, she was a diver, and she was a swimmer. Today we’re talking about swimming. She was a team leader both in and out of the pool, which were common characteristics of the three seniors recognized. Eva was someone I relied on as the voice of the team from the time she was a young athlete on the team. She had the ability to make the connection with me specifically but also her teammates, and I rely on that as the voice of the program. She’s one of the strongest kids I know despite her size. She can do things that would just blow your mind, both in the water and in the weight room on dry land. She’s the type of kid that Maine is going to be very, very excited to have when she gets on campus.”
About Eva:
Favorite food: Burritos
Favorite TV show: Modern Family
Favorite music: Country
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