State College comes into the 2018-19 swimming and diving season under new leadership, yet the goals remain the same for the defending Mid Penn champions.
Andrew Morrison is starting his first season at the helm as head coach, replacing Aaron Workman. The Atlanta native was impressed by his crew heading into the Dec. 12 season opener against Mifflin County. The team was scheduled to compete after the Gazette’s deadline.
“It’s going really well,” Morrison said. “They’re exceeding expectations from what I’ve been told (about them).”
Combining raw talent and mature discipline, this year’s group is making Morrison’s transition into the new role a seamless one.
“They’re a very self-motivated team,” Morrison said. “They push themselves hard; I don’t really have to push them. They know what they want to do and they really strive to be the best that they can be.”
The Lions are stacked with athletes at the top of their game, starting with the men’s duo of Matt Brownstead and Noah Witt. Brownstead returns to the pool after breaking multiple school records in 2018, including in the 50-yard freestyle (20.08 seconds) as well as in the 100-yard freestyle (45.23).
Witt’s talents translated to records in the backstroke last season, posting a 100-yard race of 50.21 seconds, as well as a 50-yard relay split of 23.62 seconds.
The girls’ roster is equally talented, boasting record-breakers as well. Tally Brown is back on the diving board, now holding school records in both the girls’ 6 and 11 dives. Her 2018 score of 499.20 in the 11 dives blew away the prior record of 410.90, set in 1999. Other swimmers set to take a leadership position this season are Colleen Adams, Grace Dangelo and Abbey Whipple.
Morrison’s first season at the helm will be filled with interesting tests. The Lions will be traveling to Bucknell University on Jan. 5 to take part in a stacked Bucknell Invitational, a chance to face a fierce field of athletes.
Before the Mid Penn championships on Feb. 8 and 9, the team will have two very competitive away meets, facing Hershey on Jan. 31 and Williamsport on Feb. 2.
BELLEFONTE
The Red Raiders’ squad has brought back record-breaking talent for the 2018-19 season, particularly on the girls’ side of the roster.
Natasha Hoffman, coming off a freshman campaign that saw her break the school record in 50-yard freestyle, a time of 25.06 seconds, has returned to help lead the Raiders’ charge. The team is returning all four members, including Hoffman, of the 200-yard freestyle relay that also broke the school record last season.
Several key competitions headline the season schedule for the Raiders. The team will compete in the Bucknell Open Invitational on Dec. 15, featuring a highly touted field.
In January, the club will be taking part in the Arctic Swim Classic in Clearfield, an event that usually sees more than 20 teams compete. Come February, the Raiders will be involved in the annual Mark Hess Invitational.
PENNS VALLEY
The Rams will look to impress during the team’s upcoming schedule, full of opponents both in and outside of the county.
On Dec. 13, the squad travels to Juniata College to take part in a meet with Bellefonte, as well as the host team of Huntingdon, in the last chance to make an impression before the Christmas holiday.
While on break, the Rams will be in competition, taking on the Red Raiders as well as host Mifflin County on Dec. 28.
