Youth swimming: Penn Valley gearing up for postseason meets
Swimming is a decades-long tradition at Penn Valley Athletic Club. Its youth swimmers are preparing to take part in annual postseason events.
The club, located at 6135 Monroe Road in Penn Township, will host the Pump McLaughlin Lollipop Championships at 9 a.m. July 11. The event, for swimmers ages eight and under, is named in honor of the late legendary Butler YMCA swim coach John “Pump” McLaughlin, who mentored current Penn Valley coach Corrie Jones after she picked up the sport when she was 15.
Jones said that Penn Valley will have 25 swimmers competing, with teams from Vandergrift, Natrona Heights, Kittanning and Zelienople contributing up to 150 more.
“We will have different races between the age groups,” Jones said. “There’s a big difference in the water between a six-year-old and an eight-year-old. It’s a different level of ability.
“Swimming is not an easy sport, there’s a lot of technique involved. We want the kids to learn that it’s ok to struggle as they learn different strokes. We encourage them to try something new and learn to deal with difficulty. I call it productive struggling.”
Admission to the Lollipop Championships is free. The concession stand will be open, and a 50/50 and basket raffle will be held.
“Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings … they all show up for this,” Jones said. “It’s great for the kids to see their families come out to support them.”
Penn Valley’s top swimmers will compete in the Alle-Kiski Valley League Championships July 12 at Belmont Complex in Kittanning. That event will include swimmers ages 5-18.
“We have 90 total kids swimming for Penn Valley this year,” Jones said. “That’s our best turnout since (COVID). My goal as a coach is to help kids enjoy the sport. It’s something they can take part in for their entire life.”
