Belmont Hosts AK Valley Swim Championships Sunday

by Jonathan Weaver

This Sunday, the Belmont Swim Club - an extension of Armstrong County’s Belmont Complex in East Franklin Township - will host over 300 swimmers for the AK Valley’s Swim League Championships.

Approximately 314 swimmers will compete in 839 events swimming freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly along with relays.

The Belmont - with its largest swim team in the last several years, with 42 members on its roster - will enter 30 swimmers ageing in range from 5 to 17 years in the competition.

Teams traveling to the meet include Bouquet, Penn Valley, Riverside, Sebco, Sylvan, Vandergrift, and Zelienople.

Third-year Head Coach Morgan Joseph also started by swimming with the Belmont team.

“We’re definitely a growing team. When we started out, when I swam here three years ago, we only had about twenty kids on the team and now we have 42,” Coach Joseph said. “We try to focus on teaching kids how to be competitive and how to be a team. We have a lot of fun.”

Joseph explained the top-three swimmers each receive medals during the championship and swimmers up to 12th Place receive a ribbon. A high-point trophy is also awarded to to the team and individual that scores the most Sunday.

“We have a young team, excited to compete, excited about swimming and especially being an Olympic year with the summer games right around the corner. I really hope and expect to see the numbers of swimmers in our area grow,” Joseph said.

Joseph -20 - is also an assistant head lifeguard at the Belmont Pool during the summer.

Before Sunday’s championships, the Kittanning team will send 18 novice swimmers to the AK Valley’s John “Pump” McLaughlin Lollipops Championship Meet tomorrow at Sylvan Pool in Natrona Heights.

Joseph explained swimmers get lollipops for each victory.

Joseph is assisted by Brookville swimmer Jaren Ananea.

Spectator admission to the meet is free.

Due to the meet, the pool will not open to the public until 4PM. Admission will be half-price, $3.

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