DLN Girls Swimming All-Area: Avon Grove’s Paoletti earns swimmer of year

Chester County has produced its share of talented and decorated girls swimmers and the roll call added a name that has just begun to make her mark on the state scene.
Avon Grove’s Olivia Paoletti expounded on a breakout freshman season by winning two gold medals at the PIAA Class AAA Swimming and Diving Championships. The twos continue as the sophomore repeats as Daily Local News All-Area Swimmer of the Year.
Paoletti was the key reason that the Red Devils won the Ches-Mont League National Division title with a perfect 6-0 mark, and finished fourth in the team standings at Bucknell.
“I’m so proud of everyone,” Paoletti said. “Everyone supported us and Kelly (head coach Burk) and Chick (assistant coach McNally) are amazing.”
She warmed up for states by speeding to wins in the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke in the District 1 Class AAA meet at La Salle University.
At Bucknell, Paoletti broke two minutes in gliding to the 200 IM title in 1:59.76, easily outdistancing North Penn teammates Claudia Thamm (2:02.70) and Kailyn Evans (2:03.20).
“I’ve bene working on it for a really long time now, and I’ve just been chipping away at it,” Paoletti said on breaking the two-minute barrier. “To finally see the numbers on the board and to finally see all my hard work pay off is really great.”
Paoletti returned on the second day of the meet and won the 100 breaststroke in 1:01.43, a little less than a second off the state record.
“I was a little nervous but after the first final, I was confident,” she said.
And, though winded, and not having much of a turnaround period, she came back to help the 400 free relay team to a fifth-place finish. That performance may have been the one that sticks with her coach more.
“I could see the exhaustion on her face,” said Burk. “But she still gave everything she had for the team. She fights to the end”
Paoletti left Bucknell with one more award — the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet — may have been tired, but she blocked everything out with a little help from her friends.
“Hearing the people cheer helps you get through being tired,” she said.
It may be a bit of a sports cliche that your a team’s best player is usually its hardest worker, but it is a sentiment that Burk shares about her best swimmer.
“I can’t say enough good things about her,” Burk said. “She’s the most humble person. She works hard, in the pool and in her dry land training. She works her butt off. She’s a great person.”
Paoletti acknowledges some of the things you have to give up to be a top-notch swimmer.
“It is a big-time sacrifice, not hanging out with my friends, but it is well worth it,” she said.
Next year, Paoletti will definitely be one of the top swimmers to watch in the state, but she will be far from being a one-woman team.
Backed by talented youngsters Clare McGovern, Emma Brinton and Rabea Pfaff, the Red Devils will be stacked in their league title defense. Their emergence as a swim power has not been lost on Paoletti’s peers at the school.
“It’s a really good feeling,” she said. “A lot of friends want to come to meets, it’s great.”
Paoletti, who also swims for the Delaware Swim Team, has also done well on national level, finishing third in the 200IM, fourth in the 400 IM and second in the 100 breast in the BAC CeraVe Invitational in Januray in New Jersey. As the college recruitment process just starting to get in gear, Paoletti just wants to enjoy it.
Burk summed up the feeling of Avon Grove swim fans and people overall who appreciate a talented performer.
“I’m just glad I have her for two more years.