YMCA Swimmers Splash into State Championships

by Jonathan Weaver

More than a half-dozen local YMCA swimmers will compete starting tomorrow in this year’s Pennsylvania State YMCA Championship Meet.

Starting Saturday morning at Penn State University’s McCoy Natatorium in State College, a total of nine Richard G. Snyder YMCA Stingrays will compete in relays and other strokes.

The swimmers were in the Richard G. Snyder YMCA pool one last time yesterday before practicing today at Penn State University.

Amanda Bliss, of Rimersburg, said her 10-year-old daughter, Evelyn is “very excited” for Saturday’s competition. Evelyn made the next round based on time.

“She actually didn’t find out she was going until Monday,” Amanda said. “She was very surprised on Monday whenever we told her.”

Evelyn – who also qualified for the state championship last year -has swam for the past five years, between the YMCA and the Belmont Complex in East Franklin Township.

Shannon Webb’s 11-year-old son Ben – a student at West Hills Intermediate – has been swimming for at least five years, the past three at the local YMCA, and will compete with other swimmers tomorrow morning.

But, Ben’s not only the only Stingray in the family.

15-year-old, Becca, also competed at Districts last weekend and is on the Armstrong River Hawks swim team. Becca began swimming nearly 10 years ago for the former-Armstrong Otters swim team.

4-year-old Marie will start swimming this Summer.

“I don’t think (the swimmers) are ever exhausted,” Shannon said.

Other swimmers this weekend include: Ethan Weigel, Eva DiMaio, Mattithia Burtt and the girls` relay team of Sofya Recupero, Emma Kolesar, Lauren Bowser and Abby Burk.

Coaches Mary Ann Lundgren and Atalie Abranovic were ‘ecstatic’ after last weekend’s results.

“Just really proud of all the hard work and determination – this season was just a step up from last season,” Abranovic said. “We really saw a lot of athletes mature – the sport is really becoming more of an investment for everybody on the team.

“It’s becoming contagious.”

9-and-10 year old swimmers compete Saturday morning, followed by the 11-and-12 year old swimmers and 13- and 14-year-olds Sunday morning followed by 15 year old athletes.