A busy few weeks in December with five dual meets produced WPIAL cuts for members of the Gateway boys and girls swim teams as they settled into work they hope pays dividends in the new year.
Extended workouts over the holidays, Gators head swimming and diving coach Glenn Raymer said, provided that extra push for team members ready to take that next step.
“The kids are really excited for what lies ahead as individuals and as a team,” Raymer said. “They worked really hard over break. They are looking forward to the next part of the season because the training is going to shift a little bit.”
Several Gateway swimmers were featured on the WPIAL performance lists released for the first time in late December, and Raymer hopes more will be added in the coming weeks.
Meets against Plum, Woodland Hills, Peters Township and Central Catholic/Oakland Catholic highlight the schedule for the first half of this month.
Senior Gunner Raymer, a Kenyon College (Ohio) commit, is all over the performance lists as he has achieved WPIAL cuts in every individual event and has helped the boys 200-yard medley and 200 free relays also qualify.
“It is a boost of confidence for me this season knowing that my college decision is behind me and I am secure with that,” Gunner Raymer said. “I am just so appreciative of the (Kenyon) coach for affording me this opportunity. But there is a lot of work to do this season, and I am very excited. Both teams are putting a lot of work in to be ready to keep producing best times.”
Gunner Raymer said he almost certainly will swim the 200 free at WPIALs as he works to move up the ladder after earning an eighth-place medal in the event last year. He also said he’s “90% sure” he also will swim the 100 breaststroke at WPIALs.
“Gunner got two individual cuts in the first meet against Penn-Trafford, and he got other individual cuts (50 and 100 free) leading off relays,” coach Raymer said. “Hopefully, we can get some good competition for spots on the three (boys) relays for WPIALs where we can find the best setup.”
Dallas Richardson, a sophomore, has an individual cut in the 50 free. The sprinter took 23rd in the 50 in his first taste of WPIAL-championship competition.
“He got that cut in the first meet, and he was pretty excited about that,” Raymer said. “He’s been building from there. I think he is capable of getting another individual cut, and he will have at least two relays.”
Raymer said several promising freshmen have bolstered the boys roster.
“It was nice to see the team grow a little bit,” Raymer said. “There are some teams we face who are just huge in numbers. We might be somewhere in the middle because some teams have lost so many people to graduation. We lost eight boys to graduation, but the freshmen and younger guys have stepped in and have good potential. It’s just a matter of building them up.
“I am excited about what they’ve done so far and what they could accomplish over the course of this year and into the next couple of seasons.”
Raymer said this year is big for junior Aliya Rassiane, who is back after another strong run at last year’s WPIAL and PIAA championship meets. She found herself on the medal podium twice at WPIALs last year with a seventh in the 50 free and an eighth in the 100 butterfly.
“She has big goals that include improving on times from last year,” he said. “She’s right on track. She’s done some best times unrested and unsuited. She’s put in the work. We’ll be excited to see what she can do this month and what it will look like at WPIALs when she gets the proper rest in preparation for it. She’s going to have some great races this month with some of the best in the WPIAL.”
Senior Gianna Laurenti entered the new year with three individual cuts. Last year, she swam the 100 free and 100 breast at WPIALs.
“With those cuts, Gianna will make the decision on which events are the best for her,” Raymer said. “Like Gunner on the boys side, Gianna is providing that sound leadership with her experience.”
Laurenti, Rassiane and freshman Madeline Pekarek are expected to make up three-quarters of the 400 free relay with the fourth spot up for grabs. Laurenti and Rassiane made up half of the 19th-place girls 400 relay at last year’s WPIAL meet.
Madeline’s twin sister, Katelyn, is one of those relay candidates. They are two on the girls side who have provided a nice spark, Raymer said.
Madeline also will make her WPIAL debut in two individual events. She punched her tickets in the 100 free and the 100 backstroke against Penn-Trafford.
“Madeline is getting used to the schedule and racing with some older kids who will test and push her,” Raymer said.
Gunner Raymer and Laurenti are two members of a small group of five swimming seniors that includes Riley Walker on the boys side and Harita Venkatesh and Keira Sandor on the girls side.
“The younger kids really look up to them, and they have helped the teams really come together well,” coach Raymer said. “They are willing to spend the time to improve themselves and help the younger kids do the right things to go faster.”