Swimmers from Bensalem, CB East and Norristown.
National Conference
Gilbert a positive role model - Meg Gilbert can probably count how many swims remain in her career.
And the senior swimmer for Bensalem is going to give her all in each one of them.
“It’s hard to believe I’m a senior and it’s almost over,” Gilbert said. “It really flew by. I’m going to miss the sport itself and the people so I really hope to end on a good note.”
She has put a lot of time and effort into swimming, sacrificing other activities.
“I used to be in the National Honor Society but I didn’t do it this year because of the time commitment,” she said. “Swimming takes up so much time that it’s hard to do anything else.”
Gilbert is about two seconds off the District One Class AAA qualifying time for her best event, the 100-yard breaststroke.
“I’ve never made it to districts so that would be nice for me,” she said. “Hopefully after we taper I’ll make it but we’ll see what happens.”
The Owls do not have a win and have one meet remaining, a conference finale at Pennsbury on Tuesday.
“I never look at our record as disappointing,” Gilbert said. “I got personal bests this season and everyone on our team did well personally.
“That’s what swimming is all about; everyone working hard to do their best. Beating yourself is more important than beating the other team.”
There will be life after high school swimming for Gilbert, who has been accepted into the PACE program at Thomas Jefferson University for nursing.
“I’m going to Bucks County Community College for two years and then I’ll be going to Jefferson in 2014,” she said.
She recently completed the certified nursing assistant program at the Bucks County Technical School and very shortly will be certified as a nursing assistant and able to work in a hospital.
“It’s a real jump start for my career as a nurse,” she said.
Bensalem girls coach Bridget Kim can’t say enough good things about Gilbert.
“Meg is a hard worker and she’s been a hard worker since she came onto the team,” Kim said. “She’s a leader in and out of the water.
“She pushes the kids in her lane and she likes to cheer everyone on. She’s one of the loudest cheerers on our side of the deck.
“She’s a great swimmer and a great person. She tries hard, she works hard, and she’s very enthusiastic.”
Continental Conference
Kooser finishing strong - Swimming has done a lot for Central Bucks East’s Ty Kooser.
Originally from Ohio, Kooser’s family moved to Central Bucks when he was in eighth grade after living in California for a time. The family moved due to his father’s job.
“Swimming was a great way for me to meet people,” said Kooser, a senior. “When we moved to California from Ohio, I started swimming the second day I was there.
“Swimming was a huge help to me as far as adjusting to new places.
“I’ve been swimming for about 10 years, so I’ve really stuck with the sport. I started swimming year round when we moved here.”
Kooser is a three-time District One Class AAA qualifier.
This year he is eligible to swim the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, in addition to the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle.
He will compete in the IM and breaststroke.
“I want to go under two minutes in the IM,” said Kooser, who is a member of the National Honor Society. “I’d love to make it out to states since I’ve never done that but I know it’s a long shot.
“In the breaststroke I’d love to get down to a minute or under. That would be awesome but I don’t know how realistic it is.”
He plans to attend Ohio State University but has not decided on a major.
“I grew up right outside the campus in Columbus and I’ve always loved Ohio State,” he said. “That decision was made a long time ago. It was just a matter of getting in.”
CB East coach Ed Walsh is impressed with Kooser’s work ethic.
“I’d take a whole team of him,” Walsh said.
American Conference
Nordmeyer leads Eagles - Four years ago, Greg Nordmeyer was not a competitive swimmer.
This year, he is a senior captain on the Norristown swim team.
“I wanted to do a sport to occupy my time after school, and quite honestly, I thought swimming was one of the only sports I could be good at,” Nordmeyer said. “I’m not very good at sports involving a ball.
“I took swim lessons at the high school when I was little and I liked it so I guess that memory stayed with me.
“I made the right choice.”
He is still making his college decision but would like to major in biology or environmental science.
He does not see himself swimming competitively in college.
“I will probably keep swimming recreationally to keep in shape,” he said. “But I am coming to the end of my competitive career.”
He has a realistic approach to swimming.
“It would be nice to make districts but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he said. “But I’d like to maybe break a 55 in the 100-yard freestyle before I’m done.
“That’s been my best event this year and I think once we start tapering I can maybe do that.”
The Eagles do not have a win this year.
“Everyone on our team is getting better little by little every meet,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of meets where a lot of people make their best time, and for us, that’s very important.”
Norristown coach Derek Hartman appreciates having Nordmeyer on the team.
“He’s a great swimmer and a great leader,” Hartman said. “He works really hard and sets the tone for our team and he’s the boys captain for that reason.”
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