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Seven area high school swimmers will compete over the next four days at the PIAA Swimming & Diving Championships to be held at Bucknell University.
Bedford's Leah Shackley leads the way as a four-time PIAA champion from her performances in the 100 fly and 100 back in her sophomore and junior seasons. She will be joined at the 2A event this Friday and Saturday by Tyrone's 200 free relay team of Isaac Yeskey, Cameron Gallagher, Lucas Bonsell and Spencer Dunklebarger, along with Central Cambria's Ethan Haycisak who is in the 500 free event.
The 3A competition, set for today and Thursday, has Hollidaysburg freshman Kaden Henderson taking part for the first time in his scholastic career. However, coach Emma Rubritz says there is no special regiment going on with Henderson's work schedule because of his first-time status.
"We have to be strategic with his practices to make sure he can perform well at the meets he wants to, while knowing he will have to race a lot in back-to-back weekends," said Rubritz, noting Henderson, who is seeded 31st out of 32, swam this past weekend in Ohio for a YMCA event, and will swim again in April at a YMCA event he qualified for in North Carolina. "With this (PIAA), I wish for him to just enjoy the ride. He has come so far in the last several years since I started coaching him through (Blair Regional YMCA), and especially in his first year on the Hollidaysburg team. The more he experiences high-level swimming, the more likely he'll be able to rise to the occasion."
Someone who is no stranger to high-level swimming is Shackley, who's competed on the national level in her attempts to qualify for this summer's Olympics, as well as doing more than enough to earn a full scholarship to swim at North Carolina State this fall. But is there a challenge out there for someone who wins as much as Shackley has won?
"Based on the state seeds, Leah is in a pretty good place," Coach Tom Grassadonia said. "The women swimming against her will certainly push her. As far as how she swims a race, I have kind of wished she had a little more feel, especially in big meets,because she does have an extra gear that she rarely uses. Ultimately, she always swims her race."
Shackley is seeded No. 1 in both the 100 fly and 100 back. Is winning two more gold medals her top priority? Grassadonia believes it's right up there among other things.
"Pennsylvania high school swimming historically has been very good, so I imagine there have been others with six or possibly more titles," he said. "Her goal is obviously to win both events again and break her own state records."
Tyrone's foursome, like Henderson, are at their first state meet. Their coach, Tom Getz, had a simple response when asked what he would tell them to prepare for what awaits the group.
"Enjoy the environment," Getz said. "These boys are used to swimming at meets with a lot of swimmers from high school and the YMCA. We will be swimming against teams that are all seeded faster than us. I want them to compete, swim their race and the rest will take care of itself."
Tyrone is seeded 32nd out of 32 teams.
"Our goal is to improve our time and break the school record, which we are .10 away from doing," Getz added. "Making it to states is a huge accomplishment and something to be proud of. To make it even better, we still have something to swim for."
Another first-timer at states is Haycisak, who's been around swimming for some time. His coach, who is also his mom, Amy Haycisak, has had other Red Devil swimmers at Bucknell in the past in her years on the job.
"We are viewing this as an opportunity for him to gain experience for future success," she said. "My hope is for him to embrace and make the most of this special opportunity that he has been working hard towards all season."
Ethan Haycisak is seeded 32nd out of 32 in his event.
"Some adjustments had to be made to account for the additional week this year between districts and states," Amy Haycisak said when asked about being held several weeks ago in mid-February. "Adapting to change can be a struggle, but we are choosing to make the best out of a new schedule."