Swimming is one of very few sports where hard work and months of training culminate in one race that is over in a matter of minutes and can be won or lost by hundredths of one second. Even though the outcome can be somewhat of a gamble, the dedication of three local swimmers to that very sport paid big dividends this year as they have achieved the highest distinction of qualifying for the YMCA 2009 Short Course Championships. Shay Flanagan of the Clearfield YMCA and Seth Dippold and Andrew Cotter from the Ridgway YMCA will compete in this prestigious event being held next week at the Ft. Lauderdale Aquatics Complex in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Flanagan, 18, will be making his third trip to Nationals where he competed last year in the 200-yard freestyle finishing 122nd and the 500-yard freestyle placing 72nd. This year he has qualified in the same events plus the 50 and 100-yard freestyles and 100-yard backstroke. Last weekend, Flanagan took home a bronze medal in the 100 free from PA YMCA States.
In 2007, he was a 200 freestyle gold medalist at the YMCA State meet. At the PIAA AA meet two weeks ago, he captured two medals having placed 6th in the 500 freestyle and 7th in the 200 freestyle, bringing his total state medal count to five in his four years competing for the Bisons. Flanagan also holds the Clearfield High School record in the 500 freestyle, two relay records and various pool and YMCA records. He is a graduating four-year letter winner and has accepted an appointment to West Point where he will compete on the swim team.
Also in his third year at Nationals, Dippold, 17, finished 56th in the 50 yard freestyle, 68th in the 100 yard freestyle and 120th in the 100 yard butterfly last year. His 200-yard medley relay, which included then teammates Danny Morelli, Michael Proudfit and Stephen Zomcik, placed 74th. This year, Dippold has again qualified in the 50 and 100-yard freestyles, which are his signature events, and has added the 100-yard backstroke to his itinerary.
Dippold is St. Marys High School’s most decorated swimmer as he just recently medaled twice at the PIAA AA State Championships with his 5th place finish in the 50 free and his 7th place finish in the 100 free bringing his total state medal count to three as a junior. Last week, he was named male MVP for the third straight year for the St. Marys Area Swim Team where he also holds six school records and various pool records throughout the district. Dippold was also crowned the PA YMCA state champion twice, having won the boys’ 11-12 100 free in 2004 and the boys’ 13-14 50 free in 2006.
Cotter, 14, is the least seasoned of the three as this will be his first trip to Nats, but the Elk County Catholic freshman has had considerable success this year earning him a chance to swim the 100-yard breaststroke. Last weekend at PA YMCA States, he captured the state title in two events, which is a rare feat, earning gold medals for the boys’ 13-14 100 yard butterfly and 100 yard breaststroke. He is currently ranked 5th nationally in both events as listed on the YMCA Top 10 database. As a 12-year-old, Cotter won the 50-yard breaststroke at Y states in 2007. Also a member of the St. Marys Area Swim Team, he competed at PIAA states placing 18th in the breast and 30th in the fly, one of only a handful of freshmen in the entire meet. Cotter also holds two school records for the Dutch in the 100 breast and 200 free relay.
\”We are really proud of Shay, Seth and Andrew for reaching the highest level possible in YMCA swimming. This is the goal of every Y swimmer from the time they realize what competitive swimming is all about. These three had such incredible seasons and deserve this opportunity. The swim community including our Keystone YMCA League is 100% behind them,\” noted Lindie Gnan, head coach of the Ridgway YMCA. Accompanying the athletes on the trip will be YMCA assistant coaches Victoria Dippold, Valerie Dippold and Tom Cotter.
The opening ceremonies will be held on Sunday, April 5 at the Ft. Lauderdale Aquatics Complex where Coach Mark Schubert will be the guest speaker. Coach Schubert is the reigning head coach of the USA National Swim Team and has served on seven consecutive US Olympic coaching staffs. 2008 Olympian Dara Torres will make an appearance that evening at the International Swimming Hall of Fame, also in Ft. Lauderdale. Torres won 3 silver medals in Beijing where she made a comeback performance at the age of 41. Competition will commence on Monday morning and will conclude on Thursday.