THERE’ S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR SWIMMING AND DIVING TEAMS
ox Chapel Area FOX CHAPEL AREA SCHOOL NEWS
Photo Courtesy Primetime Shots
THERE’ S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR SWIMMING AND DIVING TEAMS
The hardships of being displaced while the Foxes’ new natatorium was under construction over the past two years taught the Fox Chapel Area High School swimming and diving teams that there really is no place like home.
The teams’ eagerly awaited homecoming to their new eight-lane pool, a beautiful grandstand, and state-of-the-art diving boards, not only was a source of pride, it also spurred an increase in the size of their“ family” and had a definite influence on their tremendous success this season.
For the first time in 10 years, the girls’ team went undefeated and won the section championship outright. They had shared the title in 2015. Junior Joslyn Filo broke two school records, including one in the 50-freestyle that had gone unbeaten for 25 years. Additionally, seven girls were WPIAL qualifiers, with most swimming in multiple events. On the boys’ side, three swimmers qualified for the WPIAL championship.
“ The new pool definitely has attracted more freshmen and underclassmen to the teams, and they are really good,” says junior swimmer Brandon Brewster.“ It was hard to get people
20 Fox Chapel Area
“ We have the strength and ability to be great performers, kids who are great people and great athletes, and a crazy beautiful pool that is by far the best in Western Pennsylvania.” – Diving Coach Vernon Yenick
interested in the program when we were practicing at Shady Side [ Academy Senior High School ] during the very last practice slot from 8 to 9 p. m. It made for a really long day and we were tired a lot of the time.”
With the team back in their home pool, Coach Dan Taylor is thrilled with the depth created by the addition of the new swimmers – something that will come into play in the years ahead. It’ s a luxury that could be further enhanced through Coach Taylor’ s affiliation with the Fox Chapel Killer Whales, where he also serves as head coach for the local youth swimming program. Already, he has introduced many of his middle school-aged Killer Whales swimmers to the high school program by using them as timers at home meets.
“ I covet hard work and effort,” says Coach Taylor, whose career highlights include leading 20 swimmers to top-16 national rankings and more than 50 swimmers to sectional, junior national, senior national, and Olympic trial qualifying times.“ Over the past few seasons, I have implemented more practice sets that attempt to simulate race situations. The additional lane in the new pool gives us much-needed room for race-pace