Upper Perkiomen freshman Beatriz Santos set for first state swim
LEWISBURG >> For swimmers who have only previously trained and competed with their club teams, high school competition can be a bit different. Additional training and continuing to train when tired and sore to build up endurance and strength are something a ninth-grader needs to get used to.
But Upper Perkiomen freshman Beatriz Santos has successfully made the transition this season, so well in fact, that she will be competing in two events at the PIAA Class 2A Swimming Championships Wednesday and Thursday at Bucknell University’s Gerhard Fieldhouse.
Santos will be the only girl from the Pioneer Athletic Conference competing for state medals in 2A. She will be joined by four Upper Perk boys, two from Daniel Boone and returning double state medalist Henry Phillips from Pope John Paul II.
“Swimming for high school is different than swimming for a club,” said Santos, who also swims for the Upper Perkiomen YMCA. “Especially in the winter. Club swimming was definitely not as much as I did for the high school season this year.”
Santos will be competing in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. She finished first in the District 1 meet in the 100 fly with a personal best time of 1:00.54 and second in the 100 back at 1:00.71.
“I’m definitely pretty happy with my season,” she said. ”I think I’ve been swimming pretty well.”
“She has a tremendous amount of talent, which helps,” Upper Perk coach Brien Kalnoski said after the district meet. “For a freshman, it takes a little bit of transition because we do things a little bit differently than their club programs. She has really, really good technique and there’s things we can do to improve even before states. She has a great personality. She’s smart. I think she’s excited to get to states. She’s just a quality swimmer.”
There is nearly a three-week gap between the District 1 and PIAA meets, meaning Santos has had a lot of time to refine her techniques while still trying to be fresh for states.
“I’m definitely taking a little bit of rest,” she said. “I don’t want to be tired for meets. I focus on my technique in practice. My timing with my turns. Sometimes I’m too close to the wall. Especially in backstroke, when I can’t really see the wall when I’m turning.”
Santos is seeded 23rd in both events.
Phillips is the only PAC boy who won a Class 2A medal last season. He placed eighth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:47.46 and seventh in the 200 free in 1:44.94 as a junior. He comes in after finishing first in the district in the 500 free with a time of 4:48.65 and second in the 200 free at 1:43.89 and is seeded fifth and 10th, respectively.
Upper Perkiomen is seeded 19th in the 400 free relay after coming in second in the district at 3:22.43 with a team of Eric Harter (back), Hunter Franciso (breaststroke), Andrew Kelly (fly) and Nolan McCloskey (free). The 200 free relay team, with the same swimmers, finished fourth in the district at 1:33.45 and is seeded 26th. Three of the four relay team members will also be swimming in individual events.
McCloskey, a junior, placed second in the 100 back and third in the 200 free at districts and will be competing in both of the events, with a No. 27 seed in the 100 back (55.91) and a No. 19 seed in the 200 free (1:49.15). Senior Harter is seeded 24th in the 50 free (22.38) after a second-place finish in District 1 and 32nd in the 100 breast (1:02.21) following a third-place district finish. Sophomore Francisco is seeded 29th in the 500 free. He was third in District 1 with a time of 5:06.41.
The two state qualifiers from Daniel Boone will both be competing in the 500 free. Sophomore Tyler Ferenz placed third in District 3-2A competition (5:01.46) and is seeded 18th and junior Matthew Ferenz was fifth in District 3 (5:03.64) and is the No. 23 seed.
Class 2A events on Wednesday will include the 200 medley relay, 200 free, 200 individual medley, 50 free, 100 fly, 200 free relay and diving. Thursday’s events will be the 100 free, 500 free, 100 back, 100 breast and 400 free relay.
