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Swogger wins Williams award

By Matt Michelone

For the Mirror

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Bellwood-Antis graduate Karson Swogger enjoyed one of the most decorated careers in Blair County basketball history.

The granddaughter of the late legendary basketball coach John Swogger added another accolade to her resume Sunday as she was awarded the 17th annual Lynnette Williams Spirit Award at the Hollidaysburg Area YMCA.

“It’s an honor,” Swogger said. “She was such an inspiration to everybody, and to be even presented this award or thought to be even awarded this award is such an honor, and I’m so thankful.”

She is the third Bellwood-Antis graduate to win the award in the last five years following Katy Leamer in 2013 and Anna Hollen in 2015.

“She was a great leader,” Bellwood-Antis coach Jim Swaney said. “She led by example, she wasn’t a rah-rah kind of kid, but she led by example.

“You knew that she was always going to practice and play hard. We’re going to miss that, but I think she passed that work ethic on down. I will be eternally grateful to her.”

Swogger holds the all-time Blair County basketball — both male and female — scoring record with 2,520 points for her career, played in 112 varsity games averaging 22.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 3.4 assists per game, and 4 steals per game for her career and holds 10 school records and was part of the Bellwood-Antis District 6 2A championship team her freshman year.

She is a two-time Altoona Mirror Player of the Year and was named the 2017 Altoona Mirror Female Athlete of the Year. She is a two-time first-team all-state selection and a 2017 Miss Pennsylvania Basketball finalist. She also won the NAACP Coquese Washington Award, and is also a Blair County Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship winner.

“It’s in her genes,” Sue Kovensky, of the Gerald Spalding PIAA Basketball Officiating Chapter, said. “She always comported herself as a young lady. First person in line to shake hands, win, lose or draw. That says it all.”

Lynnette’s mom, Beth, believes the Hollidaysburg YMCA has gotten each selection correct.

“It’s somebody that’s courteous, is a good team player, has a good work ethic and also values their education, and I think all the girls that they’ve picked have done that so far,” she said.

The daughter of Bree and Jimmy Swogger has also made a great impact off the court, too. She graduated third overall in Bellwood-Antis’ class of 2017 with a 4.1 cumulative point average, and was president of her class, and the Bellwood Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“Karson was a great player for us for four years, but more importantly, she’s a very, very good kid and someone who I really look forward to see playing next year at Saint Francis in the next few years,” Swaney said. “With her work ethic, and her drive to compete I have no doubt she will be a great player up there.”

Swogger appreciates what her coaches have done for her.

“Coach Swaney is more than just a coach,” she said. “He was always there for me no matter what, whether it was basketball related or not. I’m really going to miss that bond that we had, and the same goes with (assistant coach Kyley) Longo (McGarvey).

“It didn’t matter where I was, or what I was doing, what time it was, you know if I needed anything, she’d be there to help, so I’m really going to miss the relationships that I’ve built over the past years.”

Bellwood fans won’t have to travel too far to see Karson play college basketball as she will join coach Joe Haigh and the Lady Red Flash this winter in Loretto.

“I’ll be looking forward to the competition, getting to play with people that are super good,” she said. “I’m excited to keep expanding on my game, because those people around me will just make me better. I’m really excited to keep trying to strive to win the NEC title and play in the championship.”

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