Reporter Swim Notebook: Fast youngsters emerging for Pennridge
It was at Upper Dublin’s Cardinal Classic earlier this season where Pennridge’s Lauren Scott began to feel a whole different level of determination.
“I was really pushing myself because I had some goals. I was trying to break two minutes and I did — I went 1:58,” she said of her 200 freestyle. “So that was a really great moment for me. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season and dropping more time.”
Scott is already a district qualifier in the 200 free and 100 free.
“In the beginning of the season, I wanted to go to districts,” she said. “I got my district cuts so now I wanna keep dropping times and see how I do at districts.”
The younger sister of Morgan Scott (Indiana), Lauren Scott is one to watch for Pennridge as the Rams continue pushing through the rough, busy days of January.
Said coach Jacob Grant of the sophomore: “She’s a racer.”
Up and Coming
Pennridge’s cupboard is full of young talent.
“Emily Myers, a freshman out of nowhere,” Grant said. “I knew who she was coming into high school — I had seen her on the aquatic club team here at Pennridge. And she did a couple swim clinics that I do. I didn’t know she has the speed that she has. She is taking off like a rocket.
“I think coming into the season, her best 100 breaststroke was like a 1:17 and she’s already down to a 1:11 midseason. So I’m pretty stoked about that.”
Another fast freshman for Pennridge is Adi Garges, who is coming on strong in the 50 and 100 free.
“She is already really close to her district cut in both,” Grant said. “So I’ve got two freshmen and a sophomore that I’m looking to get to districts this year, building a nice, young team.
“They can get the experience now of racing early at the big meets and racing the fast competition early so that when they get there, they’re not terrified.”
District-bound
The Rams boys are also adding to their districts roster these days, and are fielding nice foursomes in both the medley (Greg Bashaar, Cameron Schaubel, Brett Musselman, Julian Arteaga) and 400 free (Bashaar, Musselman, Zach Yardley, Sean Whitehurst) relays.
“The medley relay and the 400 free relay are the ones I think we can go for at championships for our district cuts,” Rams boys coach Jenna Anselmo said. “That medley relay, we’re gonna need to break our team record here, which will be extra exciting if we can do it. My guys are out for blood — they really want it.
“They’ve been looking at it for two years now and the best part is, if they don’t get it this year, they’re all juniors and they’re gonna get it next year.”
Just like the girls squad, new faces are populating the deck for the Pennridge boys.
“I’ve got freshmen that came out of nowhere this year, just kind of exploded in the freestyle events,” Anselmo said. “I have a couple sophomores that are pushing.”
Freshman Sean Whitehurst is racing beyond his years.
“He’s still learning how to race at a high school level so he’s learning consistently while he’s getting these fast times,” Anselmo said. “But he’s training with our juniors and our seniors and he’s racing up against our juniors and seniors so it’s helping him figure out how to race and the kind of mentality that goes along with it. It’s not just speed. There’s a little bit of other things to go along with it.”
The Suburban One League Continental Conference schedule always presents nice preparation for the postseason.
“They’re gonna see all of these teams again at Champs so they have an idea of who to look for,” Anselmo said. “They’ve already raced against a lot of the guys they’re gonna try to beat and match their times. And that really pushes them.
“A lot of my guys are number guys. So they have a number in their head and they are not happy if they don’t get that number. So I have to keep reminding them that we’re at the end of our season and their bodies are tired. They just need to keep pushing. And they’re gonna get it.”
