BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
Towanda swimming and diving is back at it as they gear up for another season in the pool. The boys return one state qualifier, and several district qualifiers from last season.
“We’re building our boys team,” said coach Hannah Deacon. “They are coming up from Aqua Ducks, and they have improved greatly down there. I’m just excited to see if they get more pool time to see their times improve.”
Brennick Lain was the state qualifier from a year ago after he was runner-up at districts.
“He wants to make it to states again, and possibly make it past the first round of dives,” said Deacon. “He’s really excited to get into the pool, and get diving. He’s working on a couple different techniques.”
On the swimming side she has three seniors in Kenneth Carle, Nolan Deacon, and Lain that she has high hopes for.
“This will be my third year with them so I’m looking forward to them taking that leadership role of seniors, and setting the example,” Deacon said.
Nolan Deacon is excited to see how the team has grown in the past three years.
“It makes me happy because when I swam my sophomore year it was very small,” He said. “And now we’ll be able to win some meets.”
His goal this year is to be mentally tougher throughout the long swimming season. It goes from November to March with more practices than competitions.
“I’m focused on staying focused, and not quitting,” Nolan said. “Really pushing myself, and trying my hardest because I’m a senior. It’s very physical and exhausting, when I wake up in the mourning and I can barely get out of bed because I’m so sore and tired. It’s very hard to stay focused, but I’ve just got to.”
His main goal is to get under a minute for the 100 backstroke, and he’s going to begin at the start.
“I think my starts should be a lot better,” said Nolan. “That’s usually when I’m more flat, I need to get more out.”
The sub-minute time would make him top five for the program, and give him a good shot at making the district podium.
They’ll be joined by 12 underclassmen, with several that Deacon has her eye on.
“I’m really thinking we have two boys, Kellen Colton and Andrew Manley, who are freshmen,” she said. “And even some sophomores last year that was their first year swimming.”
Shane Maghamez is one of the sophomores whom Deacon expects to make a jump this year.
For his part he’s been a sponge for information as he works on his new sport.
“Definitely using older people to teach you to get better as the season progresses,” he said. “Learning the fundamentals, and just going off of that.”
His main focus will be the 100 backstroke and the 50 free, with the backstroke his favorite.
“That’s where I can prove myself to win, and to get stronger as a team,” Maghamez remarked.
As for the 50 free he wants to nail down that all important flip turn.
“I’m just going harder at practice, trying to get myself ready for the meets as the season progresses,” he said.
The girls’ team is a roster of one this year with sophomore Reagan Deacon.
“It’s an ebb and flow type of thing,” Coach Deacon said about the numbers.
For her part Reagan is really excited to get into the pool as she works on the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke, with the breaststroke being her favorite.
“It’s easier and I like the breaststroke more,” Reagan said.
Mastering the IM is seen as a big feat in the swimming world.
“I’m glad that I can do it,” said Reagan. “I have the strength to do the whole thing.”
She’ll be working on the butterfly portion of the event to get her time down.
The sophomore would like to make districts in both of those individual events.
“I’m going to definitely work a lot harder in practices, and probably start working outside of practice,” Reagan said.
Starting next year Towanda will have a co-op with NEB, which coach Deacon hopes adds to their roster. They have one Panther swimming with them as an independent in Ellie Mihalek, who will join the team next year.
“I’m so excited to see a couple girls come over,” Deacon said. “I’m really hoping that we get some numbers so that we can be competitive.”
ROSTER (Grade)
Boys
Kenneth Carle (12)
Nolan Deacon (12)
Brennick Lain (12)
Xander Pratt (11)
Lake Strickland (11)
Cooper Chamberlain (10)
Matthew Weinman (10)
Shane Maghamez (10)
Curtis Carter (10)
Nathan Little (10)
Braydin Mattison (10)
Nick Post (10)
Andrew Manley (9)
Kellen Colton (9)
Travyn Lewis (9)
Girls
Reagan Deacon (10)
SCHEDULE
Dec. 6 at Shamokin, 11 a.m.
Dec. 18 at Athens, w/Wellsboro, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 2 at Elk Lake Invitational, 11 a.m.
Jan. 8 vs Danville, Athens, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 10 at Tunkhannock Invitational, 9 a.m.
Jan. 12 vs Athens, Wellsboro, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 17 at Tunkhannock Invitational, 8 p.m.
Jan. 20 at Athens, w/Danville, 4 p.m.
Jan. 24 vs Jersey Shore, Wellsboro, 11 a.m.
Feb. 3 vs Bloomsburg, Athens, 4 p.m.
