Swim sisters shine at Westminster
NEW WILMINGTON — Tradition goes a long way in the Jones family — and Westminster College's swim program is reaping the benefits.
Butler YMCA swim coach Corri Jones swam for the Titans. Her daughter Katie is now a senior on the Westminster squad.
And younger daughter Abby is a freshman at Westminster, already piling up swimming awards. Both are Knoch graduates.
“I know the family well and I knew what we were getting in Abby,” first-year Titans head swim coach Pat Smith said. “But it's exciting how quickly she has adapted to collegiate competition.”
Abby Jones, a biology major, has been named Presidents' Athletic Conference Women's Swimming Rookie of the Week three times this season and has also taken home the ECAC Division III South Rookie of the Week honor.
Abby also was a three-event winner — swimming the 100-yard breast stroke in 1:08.85, the 200 breast in 2:32.21 and 200 individual medley in 2;17.77 — against St. Vincent in a recent dual meet.
Katie Jones swims the backstroke and distance freestyle events.
“We don't go up against each other in any events,” Katie said. “I've loved having Abby on the team this year, watching her mature as a person and a swimmer.”
Katie is majoring in education and has been doing student teaching this season along with swimming. She said she wants to coach at whatever school she lands a teaching job with.
Abby takes five hours of biology studies each day, along with her other course work. The Titans often have swim practice twice a day, along with lifting and running.
“You have to keep up with the training level here and that can be challenging,” Abby admitted.
The Jones sisters are teammates for the fourth time. They swam together for the Penn Valley summer team, Knoch, the Butler YMCA and now Westminster.
Their mother coached them on those other teams.
“She's been coaching us since I was 6,” Katie said. “She's been so helpful. We've learned life values through swimming, things like dedication and hard work, that help with the course loads.“I mean, we were raised that way. You never quit, manage your time, put your best foot forward.”The PAC Swimming Championships begin today. Smith said Abby Jones “is capable of winning every event she enters.”Abby's outlook is a bit more conservative.“I'll be competing against a lot of great swimmers,” she said. “I feel confident I can get into the finals, finish among the top eight.“My long-term goal is to make nationals, but I'm not anticipating that happening this year.”Smith said the Jones sisters have a bit of a sibling rivalry, “but their presence here together has helped each other. They've been able to spend more time together.”That's a fact that hasn't been lost on either of them.“I value our time together now more than ever because I know it's coming to an end,” Katie said. “I'll be going into the working world and Abby will continue building her career here.“It;'s so cool seeing how successful she's been already. I just enjoy watching her.”Abby said she appreciates having a sister as a senior on the team.“Swimming has always been a big part of our relationship together,” she said. “It's definitely nice having her here as a support system for my freshman year.“Whether I have a good race or a bad race, whatever issue may come up. my sister is always somebody I can go to.”
