Rachel Tano

CLARION — In the midst of her final season at Clarion University, Rachel Tano squeezes in a lot more than just swimming for the Golden Eagles.

The Knoch High graduate is majoring in early childhood education and spends a couple of hours daily working at a child care facility.

“She's got a great work ethic,” said Clarion coach Mark Van Dyke, an Evans City native. “I have two seniors right now (Tano and Morgan Oberlander) swimming to the last minute. They do their block work, then go out and work with 3- (and) 4-year-olds.”

“My wife and daughter are both teachers so I know how tired they can be and Rachel, with two practices, she does it. That's a tribute to her and her work ethic,” Van Dyke added.

“We have partners and she does the same thing I do,” Tano said of Oberlander. “I have great teammates.”

Tano has not shown any signs of wear this season, helping the Golden Eagles to a 3-0 mark in dual meet action.

Tano opened the campaign by winning the 200 breaststroke (2:32.79) in a 202-140 victory over Grove City College on Oct. 20, then followed up by having a hand in three winning events — 100 breaststroke (1:08.44) and 200 breaststroke (2:27.52), as well as a member of the 200 medley relay (1:48.71) in a 198-102 triumph over Carnegie Mellon Nov. 3.

She topped that a week later with a four-win performance — 100 breaststroke (1:08.26), 200 breaststroke (2:27.28), 400 medley relay (3:59.77) and 400 free relay (3:40.29) in a 192.5-107.5 victory over Bloomsburg Nov. 10.

She enjoyed her season's best times in both breaststroke events. She is a school record holder as a member of the 400 free relay

“My favorite is the 200 breaststroke,” said Tano, who owns six top-eight finishes at the PSAC Championship meets and is an NCAA All-American swimmer. “I feel strong and hopefully, I'll continue to be successful there.”

Said Van Dyke, “When she first came here (after one year at Youngstown State), I knew she was a great IMer. I knew she didn't like the 400 IM, but she did it and did well.

“This year, we needed a breaststroker,” he added.

Tano had attended several camps at Clarion University, but when the time came to choose a college, she selected YSU.

After a tough year, she found herself back to the friendly confines of Clarion.

“Honestly, before Clarion, I had a few rough years and didn't know if I wanted to swim,” Tano said. “I was able to bounce back.

“The best decision I ever made was coming to Clarion,” she added.

That seems like eons ago to Van Dyke, who now sees a swimmer looking to finish her career on a high note for the Golden Eagles.

“Rachel's done better than I thought,” Van Dyke said. “Two years ago, I put her in the relays and she went to nationals.

“From that point on, I knew she was a leader.”