Swimmers from Abington, Central Bucks East and Cheltenham are featured in this week’s notebook.
National Conference
Kailey Horton, Abington
For Kailey Horton, swimming is all about the team.
“I really like swimming being around everyone on our team,” the Abington sophomore said. “It really is such a nice team.”
She’s been swimming since fir.jpg)
st grade.
“My parents were swimmers and they got me into it,” she said. “But swimming is really my second sport. I’m a soccer player.”
She’s hoping to play soccer in college. She typically plays forward or outside midfielder for Abington and her club, Huntingdon Valley Freedom.
She hasn’t picked a school yet or a major, but enjoys biology and is considering becoming a veterinarian or something in the medical field.
“It’s a little sad to think that I’m only going to swim in high school, but that makes me really want to make the most of the time I have left to swim,” she said.
Her focus events are the 100 backstroke, 50 freestyle and100 freestyle.
“I’m hoping to make districts,” she said. “That’s the goal. I didn’t do that last year and it’s something I’d really like to accomplish. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season and seeing how it goes for me.”
This year she is also a member of the Key Club at Abington.
“It’s nice to have something outside of athletics and something where you get to help others,” she said.
Abington has been struggling but the Galloping Ghosts picked up a conference win over Neshaminy.
“It’s good to get a win when you can, “she said. “We had some nice swims.”
Continental Conference
Erin Lengel, Central Bucks East
Erin Lengel has a very definitive career goal..jpg)
“I want to work for Disney,” said the senior captain from Central Bucks East. “I’ve been obsessed with Disney since I was watching the movies as a little girl. I loved the movies. They’re all so good.
“I’m looking to major in economics or business and work on the business side of Disney.”
She has narrowed her college choices to Butler, Marquette or Lawrence. If she chooses Butler or Lawrence, she will swim, but Marquette doesn’t have a swim program.
She has been swimming since age five.
“I just really liked the atmosphere,” she said. “I loved being in the water and spending time with my friends and working toward a common goal.”
She also played soccer, ran track and did gymnastics.
“In eighth grade, I was doing soccer and track as well as swimming,” she said. “It was too much because I also wanted to focus on school. I really loved swimming so I gave up the other sports to focus on that.”
She has a simple goal for her team.
“Everyone is doing a phenomenal job so far and I want to see us keep that momentum going,” she said. “We have so much enthusiasm and I’m so happy to be part of a team that’s so strong, not only in the pool but also academically. We all work really hard but we also have a good time and I think that’s important.
“I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to be a leader for this team and I want to see everyone continue to improve.”
Lengel is also a member of the National Honor Society.
American Conference
Nazeem Edens, Cheltenham
Nazeem Edens is proof that it’s never too late to try something new.
The junior at Cheltenham is a first-year swimmer.
“I never considered competitive swimming before but a couple of friends recommended it so I thought I’d give it a try,” he said. “I’m really enjoying the competitiveness of it. It’s a lot different from a lot of other sports in that you can really see how much you’ve improved, and I like that, too.”
Edens understands what it takes to get better in the sport.
“It’s work,” he said. “You have to work to get to where you want to be. It’s all work ethic and dedication and I like that, I like putting in the work.
“Swimming is one of the best sports for getting and staying in shape and that’s another reason why I did it.
“My goal for the end of the season is to just do my best times. I’m working on technique a lot and I think that will help. At the beginning of the season I didn’t even know how to do a flip turn, so as I learn more, my times will go down.”
Edens primarily swims the 50 and 100 freestyle as well as the100 breaststroke.
He also enjoys being part of the team.
“Everyone was really welcoming and encouraging,” he said. “They’re so supportive. Even if I’m not doing well, they’re cheering for me and I can hear it in the pool and it’s such a lift. I’m really glad I decided to come out for the team and I’m definitely doing this next year.”
He also plays the saxophone in the symphonic band at Cheltenham.
He has not chosen a college yet but would like to stay close to the area and is considering a science, probably biology, as a major.
“I really enjoy seeing myself improve and I want to see how far I can go with it,” he said.
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