SV's Dietz, Perry sign to swim in college
JACKSON TWP — Ria Dietz and Abby Perry both set a goal of swimming in college several years ago. The senior members of Seneca Valley's girls team now know where those aspirations will be fulfilled.
Dietz signed a letter of intent to continue her athletic and academic career at Illinois State University while Perry did so with Youngstown State.
Both girls, also members of the Seneca Valley Swim Club, helped the Raiders place second in the district to North Allegheny last March.
Dietz made an official visit to Illinois State, located two hours southwest of Chicago, in June.“The coaches and girls on the team were amazing and I really enjoyed meeting them,” said Dietz, who will receive an athletic scholarship and major in biology.The Redbirds compete in Division I's Missouri Valley Conference.After coming back from a dislocated shoulder during her sophomore season, Dietz turned in a breakout campaign last year, placing second in the 100-yard backstroke and fourth in the butterfly at the WPIAL Class 3A championships.“The backstroke was a bit of a surprise. I was hoping to place in the top five,” she said. “I dislocated my shoulder while swimming the butterfly two years ago. It's in the back of my mind every time I swim that event, but I just need to keep working hard and make sure the muscles around my shoulder are strong.“Being out of the pool for six weeks that year made me realize how much swimming means to me.”Raiders' coach Brian Blackwell believes everything is in place for Dietz to build off of last year's effort. A berth into the state meet is a real possibility. She was denied that last year due only to fewer swimmers moving on because on COVID.“She's done a better job of working on her underwater technique,” he said. “She's learning how to improve her strokes the whole way through.”
Perry is used to swimming a wide range of freestyle events for the high school team, mainly the 50, 200 and 500. This offseason, she has begun to put more time in with the butterfly.“It's been going well. It's not much of a transition for me because I swim all the events in training,” Perry said. “Now I'm just putting more emphasis on the fly.”“Abby is a hard worker and has gotten a lot stronger with the work she's put in in the gym,” Blackwell said. “That increases what she can do for us.”Perry said she has always wanted to swim in college, but realized it was a real possibility late last season when Youngstown State showed interest in her.“I wasn't really focused on it being Division I or II,” she said. “I just wanted to find the best fit for me.”She found it with the Penguins, a Division I program that competes in the Horizon League.“I was thinking about (Indiana University of Pa.), too, but I really liked YSU's facilities, the campus, and they have a very good nursing program.”Dietz and Perry will be two leaders on a Raiders' team with a number of fresh faces this season.“I'm excited to see the young girls because they have a lot of talent,” Perry said. “It's going to be exciting to see them progress.”
