This week’s notebook highlights swimmers/divers from William Tennent, CB East and Plymouth Whitemarsh.
National Conference
Stotler and Panther teammates looking to finish strong-The upcoming District One meet will be the final one for 
William Tennent senior captain Jacob Stotler.
And he hopes it will be a memorable one, not only for himself but also for his Tennent teammates.
“I’m just hoping that our relay gets to states and everyone does their best times,” he said. “We’ve all put in so much work.
“For myself, I just want to go as fast as I can, especially in the breaststroke.”
He finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke and sixth in the 200 individual medley at the National Conference championships, held Friday, Feb. 12.
He has been swimming since he was six years old but started off as a backstroker.
“It’s funny how that worked out,” he said. “Now that’s my worst stroke. Swimming is all about ups and downs and hard work.”
“Districts is three weeks away from champs this year, and it’s hard to hold a taper that long so hopefully we had enough time to come up a little and then take it down again,” he said.
It has been a difficult season for the Panthers with the loss of 25-year coach Lisa Forlini, who succumbed to breast cancer in November.
“That’s been really hard but everyone has really pulled together,” he said.
Stotler will attend East Stroudsburg and major in marine science. Since East Stroudsburg does not have a men’s swim team, he will not be able to continue his competitive career but he is considering giving water polo a try.
“As much as I love swimming and as much as it’s been a big part of my life, I have to consider my future and my education and this was the best fit for me,” he said.
Continental Conference
CB East’s Gillick a diving team of one - Sometimes you have to make a choice.
Kylene Gillick had to choose between swimming and diving. The Central Bucks East junior chose diving.
“This is my fifth year of diving but the first three years I was swimming and diving at the same time,” Gillick said. “Eventually I realized I had to decide between the two of them and I picked diving, so this was my second year of being fully committed to diving.
“I swam for 10 years and I just got bored with it. I wanted to try something new. All my friends were gymnasts and they all taught me cool stuff. My mom finally let me try it and I made the cut so here I am.”
She finished 22nd at the District One Class AAA diving competition with her score of 180.90 points.
“I’m a little disappointed,” she said. “I was expecting to come in a do a little better. My second dive got a little messed up. I was hoping to do my back one and a half better like I have been all season, but it is what it is.
“I feel good about next year. I can take the corrections that I made this year and apply them to next season. I want to improve my dives and my degree of difficulty for next year.”
She is the only diver on the team.
“I definitely felt pressure, especially in the tough meets when it was really close. I feel obligated to take first and get those points for the team. It makes me a little nervous but I have fun with all the girls on the team. We’re like one big family.”
She would like to major in marine biology and her college list includes Coastal Carolina, Rhode Island, UNC Wilmington, Florida Atlantic and Florida Gulf Coast.
American Conference
PW’s Jones closes career with no regrets -The District One boys diving competition was bittersweet for Plymouth Whitemarsh senior Christian Jones.
That’s because it was his final meet.
“I’m sad to see it end but I’m happy with how it turned out,” Jones said. “I was happy to be at the district meet one last time with my friend, Jake Kelly.”
Kelly, also a senior for the Colonials, finished 15th at the competition.
Jones was 19th with his score of 281.15 points. He was also 19th at last year’s district meet.
“I guess that’s just my number,” he said. “I could have done a few things a little better but I’m happy with it overall.”
In addition to diving for the Colonials, Jones also swam.
“I would say my best event was the 100 breaststroke,” he said. “It’s nice to contribute to the team in more than one way.”
He is also a member of the soccer and lacrosse teams at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
He began diving as a sophomore, encouraged by Kelly.
“Jake talked me into it and I’m so happy I did it,” Jones said. “I had such a fun time on the team.”
He participates in the Allied Health honors program and hopes to go into the medical field as a physician’s assistant. He has not committed to a college yet but is looking at Hofstra.
In the summer, is he a member of the Avalon Beach Patrol.
“Being a strong swimmer helped me get the job,” he said.
In the winter, he enjoys snowboarding.
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