3 Rockets revved up for states
SLIPPERY ROCK — Kelsey Reott slips on a swim cap with the words “Oh Snap” printed on it and dives into the pool at Morrow Field House.
The Slippery Rock High junior is most at ease in the pool as she prepares for one of the biggest meets of her life at the PIAA Class AA Swimming and Diving Championships, which will be held at Bucknell University next week.
Reott advanced to the state meet in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke, and could have qualified in the 500 freestyle, but she chose to focus on her two best events.
Reott is the first swimmer to reach the PIAA championships in two events in school history.
Her goals are simple.
“I always get nervous before a meet,” Reott said. “But I just want to go out there and enjoy it and have a good time.”
Reott won't be alone at Bucknell. After sending just two swimmers in the program's history to the state meet, the Rockets will send three this season.
Joining Reott will be freshman Katie Antal in the 100 breaststroke and sophomore Brandon Bridges in the 500 freestyle.
“Hopefully, that means we're really moving up,” said Slippery Rock coach Cindy Johnston.
Reott's journey to the PIAA championships was an arduous one. She severely injured her knee in a skiing accident shortly before the District 10 meet her freshman season.“It was the first time I had ever been skiing,” Reott said. “I'll never do that again. It was horrible because this is what I do. People didn't think I would get back to it, but I did. I was out a year, though.”The injury affected her performance last season. She finished third in the 500 freestyle and barely missed the cut for the state meet.That made making it to Bucknell this season — and in two events, no less — all the more satisfying.“I was extremely excited,” Reott said. “I've always wanted to do this. I've always wanted to swim.”The swimming bug bit Antal a little later.Antal, who was a gymnast until she gave it up for swimming three years ago, is seeded 13th in the 100 breaststroke.What attracted Antal to swimming is the competition — with herself.“I love that you can compete against your own time,” Antal said. “In other sports (like gymnastics), you are judged on how good you are. In swimming, you can race yourself.”Bridges' goal when the season started was to advance to the state meet.“(When I made it to the state tournament), I couldn't believe it,” Bridges said. “It took me a while to process it.”Once he did, he went back to work. He's seeded 30th in the 500 freestyle.Bridges, who was a regular at the two practices Johnston normally held during the season, including the one at 6 a.m., said he swam between 6,000 and 9,000 yards a day.
Johnston said there is one thing her three state-bound swimmers have in common.“They are great kids, hard workers,” she said. “It's a lot of commitment to be a swimmer, plus school. They all went above and beyond.”• Grove City High also will be well represented at the PIAA Championships.Senior Ben Yute will compete in three events: the 200 individual medley, where he is seeded 29th, as well as the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay.Joining him on the relays will be Cody Karcher, Patrick Shaw and Kevin Archibald.The 200 individual medley relay team is seeded 21st, while the 200 freestyle relay team is seeded 13th.Shaw, a senior, has advanced to the state meet all four years. He is planning to the Naval Academy to become a Navy Seal. Yute is also planning on going to the Navy and become a rescue swimmer.A preview featuring the WPIAL swimmers who advanced to the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships will appear in the coming days.
