Northern Tier Sports Report

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NTL SWIMMING & DIVING: BIG NUMBERS HAS TOWANDA EXCITED FOR THE SEASON (2022-12-14)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Towanda swimming is back at it, and the Knights hope to continue to build off last year’s successes.

“I’m excited,” said coach Evan Basse. “Our numbers are up. Not that we had a bad season last year, but I think we’ll have a better season this year because we have some more numbers. Once you have enough that you can fill some of the events it makes it a whole lot easier to compete. We’re still a small team with a lot of new swimmers, but I think still think we’re better off than we were last year.”

They’ve gotten to the point where they can fill all three relays, something they weren’t able to do a year ago.

The Knights return several who got district experience a year ago, including Alex Lantz, Eric McGee, Nathan Spencer, and Luke Tavani on the boys’ side, with Juliana Varner, Marisa Wise, and Zoie Lamphere for the girls.

Varner had the highest finish of any swimmer at districts, taking third in the 50 free last year.

Spencer took eighth in the 200 IM at districts a year ago.

“I think my goal is just to do better than I did at the end of last season,” he said. “I think if I can, everyday, come in and just improve on one thing, or just work out that extra big harder. I think that’s a good goal for me, because it forces me to push myself a little bit harder.”

He’ll be focusing on the 100 breaststroke, along with the 200 IM and the 200 free.

“When I first started doing (the breaststroke) it was me and one other guy who were doing it, so no else was doing it,” explained Spencer. “I fee like I was helping my team by filling a spot. And, anymore I feel the same way, but it’s also become a way for me to better myself without just doing freestyle. It allows me to change things up a little bit.”

Spencer is hoping to get under 1:10 in the event by the end of the year.

Tavani will be aiming for the longer events, the 500 and 200 free.

“It’s just a lot more mental,” Tavani said about the longer races. “Less sprinting, but longer sets. Not as fast, obviously, but definitely longer sets.”

He’s hoping to go under two minutes in the 200, and get to 5:45 in the 500, plus a top five finish at districts.

“It’s going to take a lot of work,” Tavani remarked. “But that’s definitely a goal.”

Lamphere has been looking forward to getting in the pool for most of the school year.

“That’s all I would talk about,” she said.

She too does the longer events the, 200 and 500 free.

“I’m focusing on my stroke and kick, definitely my kick,” remarked Lamphere. “I would forget to do that, and I would just focus on my arms. That’s the first thing I would feel because my feet are mostly just all in the water, but I want to work on my kick.”

She knows she’s not a speed person, and enjoys catching up to others in the longer events.

“I kind of like letting everyone else use all their energy at the beginning, and then I get them at the end,” said Lamphere.

Basse would like to see what some of his newcomers can do in the pool.

“I’m looking for of our freshmen and new swimmers to step up this year,” he said. “I have four seniors that all do very well, and are a big part of the team, and I’m hoping that some of my newer swimmers will step up, and start to fill those holes and help lead the team in the future.”

His main goal is to get as many swimmers to districts in as many events as he can.

“My biggest goal for them is to see them improve, and take them from beginning of the season, to where they’re not really in swimming shape, to get them to the point where they can actually qualify, and go and compete at districts,” said Basse.

ROSTER

BOYS

Alex Lantz

Eric McGee

Nathan Spencer

Daniel Storrs

Luke Tavani

Clay Wrisley

Sean Lauber

Braeden Pratt

GIRLS

Alyse Bass