The Lance and Shield
Making waves at statesWednesday, March 21, 2012 By Jacob Mackey
Pennsylvania ranks in the top 5 fastest states for high school swimming. Getting a chance to compete at this level is an amazing experience that few at Loyalsock have ever had a chance to do. The obstacles these swimmers went through and overcame made the whole experience that much sweeter. “It’s a feeling you can’t explain,” stated Matt Runtas when questioned about stepping up on the block to lead off the 400 freestyle relay; “It’s an adrenaline rush and nothing else seems to matter.” Going into the PIAA State Championships, Williamsport has always been the underdog. Many people did not anticipate that they would do well at that level. This just proves that, no matter where you come from, as long as you train hard and want it badly enough, you will achieve your goals. Coach Bill Keiser said, “I knew they would make it this far because of the work ethic. It shows anything is possible with their commitment to the team. It shows two schools can pull together and do great things.” Both Duncan Frazier and Shaun Smith said that they felt good in the water and that intimidation is for girls. The four swimmers making up the 400 relay team, Shaun Smith, Duncan Frazier, Matt Runtas, and Jacob Mackey all felt a sense of pride knowing that they belonged in the finals and worked very hard to get there. Dropping two seconds from their district time the boys ended with a 3:11:93 and getting 11th place in the state. The thing that was agreed upon that they would miss most was the camaraderie and the crazy group of guys they have been swimming with for the past four years. Congratulations swimmers and may success come to you in your future swimming endeavors. |