4 for Florida
There's a lot to be said for timing.
With the conclusion of the high school swimming season just two weeks ago at the PIAAfinals, some swimmers will be headed to the YMCA National Championship Meet in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which runs Monday through Thursday.
The Butler County Family YMCA will have four representatives — senior Sarah Clouse, junior Brittany Vogel and sophomores Rachel Tano and Courtney Shields — taking part in the 200- and 400-yard medley relays.
However, swimming at three different high schools did not allow the group much opportunity to practice as a team very often.
"We'll work on the timing. It's the point that they haven't worked together," said YMCAcoach Jeff Armstrong, who also coached Clouse and Vogel at Butler High School.
"We're working on exchanges and timing. This (200-medley relay) is faster than the (Butler High) record relay," Armstrong added.
In both relays, Vogel will swim the backstroke, Clouse the breaststroke, Shields, of Mars, the butterfly and Knoch's Tano the freestyle.
"We've never had anyone, in the 10 years I've been involved, had a girls relay team make it," said Clouse, who also will be competing in the 100 breaststroke event, which she qualified for during the high school season.
Clouse, along with Shields, qualified for the nationals last year, so they will be better prepared this time around.
"I think I'll do a lot better than last year," said Shields. "The experience helped both of us. We know what it's like."
Competitors could qualify in relays in two ways: meet a national qualifying standard as a relay team or take each individual's personal event, record that time at some point and add up to the qualifying standard.
The Butler 200 medley relay used a special meet in early March to qualify as a group, while the 400 medley relay advanced by adding individual times in each of their respective 100-yard events at some point leading up to the finals.
It's the 200 relay that appears to have the best shot.
"They have a chance to get to the finals," said Armstrong. "They're seeded 44th out of 99 and have a shot for the top 20."
Armstrong posted a time of 1 minute, 50.5 seconds on the board at the Butler High School. It's a lofty goal, but the team believes it can be reached.
"It's definitely a lot easier than the 400 relay," said Clouse. "The four of us are better at 50s."
Tano, who also will compete in the 100 breaststroke with Clouse, and Vogel are trying to get a sense of what things will be like in Florida.
"I expect it to be a fast swim meet," said Vogel. "They say it's very exciting."
"There should be a lot of energy," Tano said "I'm excited, but it's been a long season. You keep pushing though."
