It appears that every year the Foxes’ swim teams’ next-to-last meet of the season against Franklin Regional is the one that draws the most excitement. It has become a big rivalry and is the pinnacle of the regular season because the section champions usually are determined at that meet. This year is no different. For the boys team, which has grown and improved markedly over the past few years, that event versus Franklin Regional on Thursday, February 10, is an opportunity to claim their second consecutive WPIAL Class 3A Section 3 title. It’s something that would be a first in school history.
Coach Dan Taylor is very pleased with their performance thus far and has seen a real eagerness to continue their winning ways.
“Just recently, at the meet against Upper St. Clair and South Fayette, the boys team had its best showing yet,” the coach says. “They are having a fantastic season and that meet against USC was amazing. The boys just missed the school record in the 200 free relay and 400 freestyle relay each by .3 seconds. They are very excited for the meet on Thursday against Franklin Regional.”
Senior co-captain Holden Smith says that the USC meet was the highlight of their season so far and proved what the boys are capable of doing.
“It was our first time suiting up this season (in tech suits) and across the board we had time improvements and WPIAL qualifying cuts, not to mention we had a much closer score than we were expecting against one of the best teams in the WPIAL,” says Holden.
A member of the 200 and 400 freestyle relays, Holden says the swimmers in those events are very inspired to beat the current school records. He explains what he needs to do individually to make that happen. “Personally, that would mean going below 22 seconds in my 50 leg of the 200 freestyle relay and sub 48 seconds in my 100 leg of the 400. With some extra training before WPIALs and the excitement of swimming at that meet, I think it’s attainable.”
The other three boys who complete the 400 free relay are senior Nate Ross, junior Emmanuel Drappatz, and promising freshman Christian Dantey. The group automatically qualified for WPIALs with a time of 3:13.63, only .24 seconds off the school record of 3:13.39 set last year. Christian also has shown his ability to compete with some of the best older swimmers in the WPIAL as is evidenced by his additional individual automatic qualifying times in the 200 freestyle, 200 IM, and 100 breaststroke.
Dave Dering, also a senior co-captain, is happy with the progress of the 200 free medley team, of which he is a member, along with Holden, Nate, and Emmanuel. The group automatically qualified for WPIALs with a time of 1:28.74, just .35 seconds off the school record of 1:28.39 set in 2006.
Dave says, “I’m very proud of the work the boys have put in all season. Personally, it validates the new drylands, lifts, morning practices, and yoga sessions we implemented this season, and speaks to the willingness and maturity of the team to adopt these strategies that were presented by the coaches.”
With experience comes wisdom, and Nate has a broader look at what has transpired to contribute to his own success and that of his teammates.
“I’ve learned that it’s good to trust the process, including the coaches and the teammates around you,” says Nate, who is closing in on his individual automatic times from last year in the 100 free and 500 free. As compared to last year at the same time in the season, Nate’s 100 free is faster than it was then, but he expects to put up even faster times at the Franklin Regional meet. Nate also is a repeat automatic WPIAL qualifier as part of the 200 and 400 free relay events.
“This isn’t a sport where you can expect immediate results,” says Nate. “There will be bumps and inconsistencies during the course of a season. That’s why I believe confidence is one of the biggest and most underrated aspects of the sport. I believe that when I’m confident, and my teammates are confident, we can do some really special things.”
At 6’2”, junior Aadil Pattada could have played basketball or volleyball, but he decided on swimming. He says, “I did consider basketball, but I am a horrible shot, and swimming was more enjoyable. It has a great community and was one of the main ways I made friends when I moved here three years ago.”
Aadil has automatically qualified for WPIALs in the backstroke again this year, as he has done since he was a freshman. He says he is only very slightly behind where he was last year. “I believe they (his times) are sure to improve since I can be in the water more than in my sophomore year during the lockdown.”
Besides his height advantage, Aadil’s strengths extend to his quick starts. While his strategy for a fast start off the block is depending upon the light instead of the sound of the gun and the ‘go’ instruction, for the backstroke, it’s very different. Aadil has been staying after practice to work on his starts and has improved drastically since the beginning of the season.
“I would now rate it (his start) at a nine out of 9 out of 10 now, since there is always room for improvement,” comments Aadil. “My height allows for me to place my feet in a better position than someone shorter, and that enables me to have a more powerful push off than others.”
Emmanuel’s specialty in the water has always been freestyle. Of all the strokes, it’s the one that always has come the easiest for him ever since he started swimming and he’s never switched strokes. His long experience with that form made it possible for him to qualify in three events this season – the freestyle relays and the individual 50 free – whereas during the 2020-2021 season he only qualified as part of the 200 free medley. His individual time of 21.94 in the 50 free is better than it’s ever been.
He says, “The difference in my speed between now and then is significant. Back then I would struggle to stay in the 22s. Now, if properly rested and in good shape, 21s are achievable and I credit that to a good diet and a stricter training regimen.”
Finally, Owen Howell, another freshman, has an individual automatic qualifying time in the 100 breast. Others who will compete solo are Nate in the 200 free and Aadil in the 100 back. Freshmen diver Jackson Hagler also will make his first appearance at WPIALs. Additionally, there are plenty of other boys who are currently secondary qualifiers but are very close to getting guaranteed spots at the regional competition, including sophomores Henry Koloc and Peter Manelis.
As of February 7, the WPIAL performance sheets list the Foxes with top-10 times or scores in seven events. In Dave’s opinion, the boys ability to place more individual and relay qualifiers, beat old times, and win a record-setting repeat section title are due to an atmosphere that breeds success.
“In my time with the team, a lot of camaraderie and high energy have been ever-present, but now, the team as a whole has become faster and more focused on winning.”