This week’s notebook features swimmers from Bensalem, Souderton and Norristown.
National Conference
Fowler has sights set high - Sierra Fowler is a realist.
“Our girls team hasn’t won a meet in my four years, and that’s not an issue for me,” the Bensalem senior said. “I love swimming so it’s not at all hard for me to motivate myself to swim every day and our team is focused on individual improvement and not our record.”
She takes her role as a captain seriously.
“I feel like I’ve always tried to be a leader,” she said. “Even as a freshman I was the one who was cheering for everyone, so becoming a captain just kind of developed over time for me, but I am excited to be a captain.”
Fowler began swimming in a middle school program.
“I really didn’t do any other sports but I liked swimming so I stuck with it,” she said.
She is looking forward to the upcoming conference championships.
“I’m trying for the district cut in the 50 freestyle,” she said. “I’m still a second off but hopefully with tapering I’ll get down there and once I get to champs maybe I’ll make the cut.
“It’s a goal, maybe it’s not a realistic goal but I’m trying for it. If I don’t get it but I do my best time, I’ll be happy with that.”
This year’s District One qualifying times are much faster than in previous years, with an automatic time and a consideration time.
“Districts are harder to make this year and that’s a little frustrating because I think I could have made the time from last year,” she said. “But people are getting better and they wanted to make it more competitive so it’s understandable.”
Continental Conference
Ryan eyes future - P.J. Ryan has his eye on the future.
The Souderton senior will continue his education at Penn State in the fall, where he plans to major in energy engineering.
“In the last five years, this has become a major issue,” he said. “It’s really cool to think of all the different ways to create energy. I’m fortunate that this is something I find interesting and it’s in demand.
“I’m looking forward to the next phase of my life. At the beginning of the season, I was upset that high school swimming was ending, but as the season as gone on it almost feels like it’s time to move on to something else.”
He will not swim for Penn State, but does not envision giving up the sport.
“I’ve been swimming competitively for seven years,” he said. “High school swimming will end, but I’m not going to stop swimming because it’s something I love to do.”
His high school career isn’t quite over, however.
“At the beginning of the season I did have the goal to go under the district consideration time in the 100 breaststroke,” he said. “I’m not sure if that’s a reasonable goal but it’s definitely something that would be great if I did it.
“If I give it everything I have and do my best time, I really can’t be disappointed with myself. I’ve worked really hard this year.
“Swimming is a big time commitment and you have to sacrifice, but it’s also very rewarding. I’ve made a lot of friends and that’s the biggest thing I’ll miss about swimming, is the friends I’ve made on this team.”
Ryan plays the oboe in the school orchestra, is a member of the National Honor Society and is a student council representative for the senior class.
American Conference
Brenner leads Eagles - J.J. Brenner and his Norristown teammates know that wins are hard to come by in their competitive conference.
“We take our victories in other areas,” said Brenner, a senior. “Our team is small so we’re not going to score enough points to win the meet, but we’re happy when someone does their best time.
“And swimming isn’t just about winning. The friendships that I’ve made on this team are a lot better than winning.
“It’s nice to win and hopefully we can get a couple more wins but we’re in a tough league with teams like Upper Dublin and Wissahickon. They’re a lot faster than us, but for our team it’s important for us to see the improvement in each individual and not get caught up in our record.”
A four-year member of the team, he is a team captain this year.
“I really wanted to step up and be a leader this year,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to our conference championships but it will be a little sad because it will be my last meet.
“I’ve been swimming for a long time. I tried baseball and soccer but when I was really small my sister Katelyn was a swimmer and I just wanted to join her. It was a great decision for me.”
He is also a member of the Ski and Snowboard Club at Norristown.
“I’ve been skiing a lot more but I also snowboard so I do both, “he said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
He has been accepted into seven different colleges and is currently trying to decide between Bloomsburg and Alvernia. His likely major will be either digital forensics or criminal justice.
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