Blazing his way to Ohio
JACKSON TWP — It was during his sophomore year when swimming in college became a real possibility for Owen Blazer.
“I was competing with older kids who were talking to college coaches,” said Blazer, a current senior at Seneca Valley. “I was right there with them and thought swimming at the next level was something that could happen for me.”
Hope turned into reality last month when Blazer signed a letter of intent to swim at Miami University in Ohio. He was one of five recruits signed by the Redhawks.
Other schools were also in play in the early stages of recruiting.
“I was looking at Cincinnati because it's near my dad's side of the family,” Blazer said. “I also looked at William and Mary and Notre Dame.”
But it was Miami that won out, due in large part to the fact that it is “a pretty young program,” according to Blazer, who made a verbal commitment to the school last spring.
“Their coach, Hollie (Bonewit-Cron) used to be an assistant coach at Florida,” he added. “Times get dramatically faster in college and the training is off the wall, but she's going to help me go places.”
The backstroke is Blazer's best event, but he's open to other roles.
“I like the backstroke because I'm more kick-driven and that's a very kick-driven stroke,” he said. “I feel I can grow my role in college as a back-stroker, but Coach Brian (Blackwell, SV) hasn't pushed me into a corner with any one stroke and I feel I can succeed no matter what event they put me in.”
Blazer was part of five school records at last year's WPIAL meet, including 49.38 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke, good for second place. At the ensuing state meet, he broke his own school standard in the butterfly with a time of 49.6.
He has qualified for the state meet all three years.
“Owen has progressed well every year,” Blackwell said. “He's a really good swimmer and a good leader for the younger kids. He leads by example.”
Swimming is a very demanding sport, training for long hours both in the water and in the weight room. Much of the work and competition is done outside of the high school season. But for Blazer, it has become a way of life while maintaining a 3.5 GPA.
“I see my coaches and teammates putting in the time every day,” he said. “A lot of it is done to help me. If I were to stop swimming, it would be like giving up on them and I'm not going to do that.”
Before taking his talent to the Division I college ranks, Blazer is hoping to make the most of his final high school campaign.
“I'd like to bring home at least one WPIAL gold medal,” he said. “And our team is also close to winning this season. It's the strongest we've been in my years on varsity.”
