On Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, Quakertown seniors Julianne Redmond and Meghan Woods were recognized for committing to continue their swimming careers at the collegiate level. To view photos, visit the Photo Gallery.
“It’s a blessing to talk about these two wonderful young ladies,” coach Tony Carty said. “Swimming is a tough sport. You have water, you have walls – you get to one wall, you turn around and go the other direction, and that’s pretty much it, but these guys show the beauty of the sport by their intensity and how they swim.”
Julianne Redmond – Cedar Crest College (Swimming)
Major: Psychology/Sports & Exercise Science
Final list of colleges: Cedar Crest, Arcadia, Allegheny
Reasons for choosing Cedar Crest: “I chose Cedar Crest mostly because they were very focused on the academic part which I really want to do because I hope to get higher education after the four years of college as well. They also fit with the swim team, and I really like the coach and the kids on the team.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in swimming at the collegiate level? “I definitely didn’t think I was going to swim in college because it’s such a competitive sport, and it’s really hard to keep up with it. When I decided on my major because I hope to get a degree in sports psychology, I decided it would be a good asset to have some sort of team in college under my belt just so I could relate more.”
Coach Tony Carty says: “I have known Julianne since she was a little girl, and I’ve watched her grow into a Godly woman. She’s quiet, she is intense, she is intelligent. At the biggest moments, those championship moments, she swam her best races, and that’s all you can ask out of an athlete - those athletes that swim the best when the most is on the line. She has ushered in with this senior class a renaissance in Quakertown swim. She’s made our ‘team equals family’ motto a truth, a way of life because she mentors the young swimmers, catches them in the locker room and asks them how they’re doing. She’s an incredible young lady. I look forward to seeing her grow academically and athletically over the next four years because she’s an amazing person.”
About Julianne:
Favorite food: Fruits & Veggies
Favorite TV show: Friends
Favorite music: Pop or Country
Meghan Woods – Misericordia University (Swimming)
Major: Biology/Pre-Med
Final list of colleges: Misericordia, Penn State, Wilkes, Arcadia
Reasons for choosing Misericordia: “Before I decided that I wanted to swim better in college, I was pretty dedicated on going to Penn State Main Campus because they have a very good program, and the Hershey Med School is right there which is where I want to attend med school.
“When I went there for my overnight, I loved the atmosphere and the team I was going to be a part of. Plus, a lot of kids that go to that school are planning on majoring in medicine type of paths, which fit me very well. I love the coach, and it just felt natural to be there. I also got a good amount of money to go there, so that was an aspect.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in swimming at the collegiate level? “I actually decided when my family was going to Colorado. I was bored on the car ride there, so I decided I would start filling out recruit questionnaires. I had major knee surgery last year after dislocating my knee skiing, so I didn’t think swimming was ever going to be in my path after that point. Then I was thinking – why not see how it goes? I ended up here.”
Coach Tony Carty says: “Meghan is amazing. She’s the most resilient girl on the planet. After major injury after major injury, she still got back in the pool. Some people would have just given up. They would have said – I’m good enough, and I don’t want to do it anymore, but this girl just kept going. Her intensity at practice was incredible – she just kept going and going. The other girls were like, ‘Meghan, stop,’ but she would say, ‘No, I have to keep going, I have a goal.’ All year she chased this crazy goal of trying to swim the 500 in under six minutes. She pursued it, she pursued it, and she pursued it, and then she nailed it. Everybody on the team is watching her lap after lap. She got to the last lap, and everybody’s like, ‘She’s got to hurry,’ and she did. She hits the wall, she looks up, and she smiles. I gave her a big hug. We knew we had accomplished something because if you look at the team – the team was all on board. I can’t say enough about her, I can’t say enough about her resilience and the wonderful young lady she is, the perseverance, and I’m just excited to watch these two grow into adults one day.”
About Meghan:
Favorite food: Any kind of fruit
Favorite TV shows: House & Criminal Minds
Favorite music: Rap
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