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Four area swimmers will head to the southeast section of Pennsylvania on Friday for the PIAA Class 2A Diving and Swimming championships at Cumberland Valley High School.
On the boys side, Central's Jackson Jeffries will compete in the afternoon while Central Cambria's Jensen Westrick, Bedford's Leah Shackley and Juniata Valley's Ava Allison begin their day in the morning portion of the competition.
Because of the global pandemic that began last year, the event was moved from Bucknell University in Lewisburg to a town just outside of Harrisburg. And none of the coaches is worried about the change of venue either.
"It will have zero effect on her performance," said Central Cambria coach Amy Haycisak, who will watch Westrick compete in the 100-yard butterfly. "A pool with water is what is required, and she is exceptionally excited to have this opportunity."
Westrick won the 100 butterfly event at districts in 1:01.68.
"We will measure her success in accordance with her time, and obviously, we are seeking a personal best," added Haycisak, who pointed out that Westrick's training regiment has remained basically the same.
Kerry Jeffries, who coaches her son, Jackson, is looking forward to the CV venue.
"Cumberland Valley looks like they have great facilities so we don't have any concerns over the venue," she said. "Jackson has been coaching himself the last two years. I'm letting it up to him to determine his taper for the meet."
Jackson Jeffries won both the 50 freestyle in 21.82 and the 100 freestyle in 49.0 at districts.
"I was very excited about his performances at districts," Kerry Jeffries said. "Both of his times were personal bests and school records. His 50 free time set the Hollidaysburg pool record. That's hard to improve upon. I'm still hopeful, though, that he'll have additional time drops at states."
This is Jeffries second trip to states.
"My main job is to cheer from the pool deck," Kerry Jeffries said.
Shackley and Allison compete individually since neither Bedford or Juniata Valley do not have a team. Tom Grassadonia, who is the director of aquatics at the Blair Regional YMCA, coaches both girls.
"Both athletes have continued pretty intense workouts through last week," he said of the two freshman. "We began tapering them down, providing a little rest this past weekend, to best prepare them for the state meet."
Shackley won two gold medals at districts, the 100 freestyle (54.14) and the 100 backstroke (57.51).
"Leah's strongest event is the 100 backstroke and we are hoping for a two-plus second drop, a low 55 timew hich could move her from her fifth seed position to possibly a top three finish," Grassadonia said.
Allison won the district title in the 200 IM with a time of 2:19.75.
"I am hoping to see Ava drop another couple of seconds off her time from districts which was a career best," Grassadonia said. "A low 2:18 should allow her to hold, or possibly better her finish position at the meet."