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By Scott Franco
sfranco@altoonamirror.com
High school swimming practice officially started last November according to the PIAA, but for athletes at schools like Huntingdon and Hollidaysburg, it started well before that, with summer and club programs offered throughout each community. Now, starting Wednesday at Bucknell University, site of the state 3A and 2A championships, eight Bearcats and two Golden Tigers will find out where they stand among their peers.
Huntingdon, which won the District 6 2A boys and girls titles, will be represented on Friday and Saturday by Haley Goldstone, Mallory Woodward, Sydney Houck, Jaelyn Mitchell, Andrew Edwards, Matias Berger, Nick Buckley and Ben Atherton. Hollidaysburg, which will compete Wednesday and Thursday in the 3A state meet, has Shani Evans and Conor McKeirnan.
Goldstone will compete in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. She will join Woodward, Houck and Mitchell in the 400 free relay and 200 medley relay. Goldstone has been to states before, but the other three will be first-timers.
"I think the kids who have been to the state meet before can be a big help to those who have been there before," Huntingdon coach Mel Varner said. "They can tell them what to expect and what it will be like. It won't stop the nerves entirely, but I think it can alleviate some of the anxiety. It's always nice just to have someone else on your team there so you're not by yourself."
Goldstone won both of her events at districts as did the two relays. She is seeded 14th in the 50 freestyle.
"Haley's evolution since her freshman year is not really a surprise to me," Varner said. "She is a very committed and dedicated swimmer with a motivation to be like very few others. I know she's disappointed with her progress over the last three years due to her knee problems. She wants to do better, but the knee pain keeps her from doing all she wants to do."
Varner thought her relay teams had a chance at the outset of the season, but that winning two firsts at districts was a pleasant surprise.
"I thought we had a chance at the start of the season since there was a lot of potential, but you just never know how things will play out as the season progresses," Varner said. "I would say it's a credit to their dedication and commitment to having accomplished all this."
For the boys, Buckley will swim in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, of which he finished second in both at districts. Atherton will swim in the 200 freestyle, which he took second at districts. The foursome will swim in the 200 free and 400 free relays, of which they both won at districts.
"From the start of the season, there was clear motivation and determination on their part to achieve the district title again after having done so last year," Varner said. "The boys 200 free relay would have to drop around a second to meet the times in the top 16 seeds, so they have an outside chance of maybe making it into the finals."
For Hollidaysburg, coach Deb Solomon and assistant Tracy Flynn, they've seen improvement over the course of the season from the sophomore McKeirnan and senior Evans.
"He (McKeirnan) has improved a great deal since over the summer," Solomon said. "If we can get it in his head that he can do it, he will be fine. It would be really nice for him."
McKeirnan is the district champ in the 200 freestyle. Evans won the 100 breaststroke. Solomon is just hoping that when they get to Bucknell they will be able to practice together, something the PIAA has not allowed in the past.
"If we can get them on deck together, it would be great but you have so many kids on deck, it's limited space," she said.
McKeirnan came on as a freshman last year, winning more than his fair share of firsts. Evans was a freshman at Hollidaysburg, then went to boarding school in Israel for two years before returning to Hollidaysburg this year.
"She did not go to states as a freshman, but she did have a nice 50 split when she was younger. She was not nearly as fast as she is now," Solomon said. "Her dad sent me her times and I thought she would definitely be able to make states for us, but just what event, we did not know.
"I know they are both ready and looking forward to the competition," Solomon added. "They are excited to see what they are going to do against the competition."