By Camden Gjovik sports editor and Kaylee Reynolds staff writer
Saegertown junior Skyler Bland loves to compete. She has been a member of the Meadville swim team since her freshman year, even though she is a PENNCREST student.
“I’ve been swimming for about nine to ten years,” Bland said “I do enjoy swimming for the Meadville swim team.”
Skyler Bland
Bland is not the only PENNCREST swimmer. Along with fellow PENNCREST Cyber student Nathan Samuels, they dominate the water. According to Bland, the best part of swimming is the hard work put in during the on and off season.
“The hardest part of swimming for me is keeping up physically and mentally,” Bland said. “Swimming is as much a mental sport as it is physical.”
Bland was a qualifier for states last year, but due to COVID regulations, they only took the first place qualifiers. She placed second in the 100 backstroke and fourth in the 200 IM.
On Monday, Jan. 27, Bland placed first in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 1:11.12 and second in the 200 yard freestyle with a time of 2:19.57. She continues to improve her times and hopes to qualify for states this year.
“Every year I come closer and closer to states,” Bland said. “I hope to continue improving my times, and I hope to swim in college as well.”
She will be back in the pool on Monday night as the Meadville swim team travels to McDowell.