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Underclassman Must Propel EHS Swim Team

Some Make a Splash at 5 a.m. Voluntary Training

It's a new season in the Emmaus Natatorium.

It begins as many have before it -- with echoing shouts of encouragement, yellow rubber caps bobbing in and out of the water and large splashes dividing the water where divers plunge.

Memories of the team's top-five finish in the state are fresh, but only half the same members remain … a natural consequence of high school graduation. So what promise will the new swim season hold?

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The team make-up is new, but coach Tim O'Connor has been around the Emmaus pool's edge since 1996, when he began as an assistant coach.

Half of last season's team is back, but most of the state point-scorers are gone. That means those returning may step up and propel the team. Or – at the very least – there is additional optimism for a silver lining because a large turnout by underclassmen suggests a strong program for years to come.

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"We have 27 freshmen and sophomores, which is pretty amazing," O'Connor says. It is the largest amount of underclassmen he's had in a long time.

The returning six seniors are all former District 11 meet participants. Of those, Allie Roberts, Alex Muraro and Ryan Woltornist also have experience at States.

Roberts has returned, bringing her "growing leadership skills to the team, O'Connor says. Woltornist has shown "solid leadership"  and Muraro offers his experience in State competition.

Of the returning juniors, Casey Harvey, Bailey Miller and Alyssa Romano have participated in Districts. The junior boys all have competed at Districts. Romain Decrop, Parker Edmonds and Evan Paules went on to compete at States.

Even though the new team makeup may be a challenge of mixing young talent and older experience, O'Connor is confident in its potential.

"Their work ethic has been great," he says. "They like being here, and I think that's part of anyone who wants to be a successful athlete – to enjoy what you're doing."

The upcoming season promises to be challenging with meets against tough opponents. The team often schedules meets with as many as six of the top 10 teams to test its abilities for Districts and States.

"One of the great things about being an Emmaus swimmer is our schedule," O'Connor says, noting those participants who want to be challenged will be.

Locally, one of the main competitors will be Parkland. Others expected to be strong are Central Catholic, Liberty, Nazareth and Easton. Statewide, the team will face competition from perennial powerhouses such as North Allegheny and Wilson West Lawn.

While a predominantly young team can bring its challenges, O'Connor doesn't mind. "The great part about having all these young kids is that all these [meets] are chances to teach them how to become better winners and swimmers," he says.

All sports are very important at EHS in that they build "character, discipline and responsible athletes," he says. And he adds that – win or lose – swimming is somewhat unique in that it teaches dedication. Swimmers, whether they have a bad meet or a good one, still go to practice.

The swim team has voluntary training at 5 a.m. three days a week. This allows the coaches more time to focus on the individual swimmers seeking improvement. The team also has practice every day after school and Saturday mornings.

O'Connor likes the demeanor of the team.

"The nice thing about having so many young kids is they are all competing and they are all friends," he says. "I know the end result of that is they are all going to be successful at the end of the day."

Swim meets are divided into boys' and girls' teams and consist of swimming and diving events.

Both squads got off to good starts with wins Dec. 16 against Freedom High School. The boys won 119 to 64 and the girls topped their opponents 123 to 62.

The squads will next compete at 11 a.m. Dec. 29 against Wyoming Valley West High School. Swimming events will be at Emmaus, while the diving events will be at Wyoming Valley West in Plymouth, near Wilkes-Barre.

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