Adrian Lavorini is in the twilight of his high school swim career at Knoch before he heads off to compete in college.
But the multi-time WPIAL medalist and PIAA qualifier has a lot left to accomplish while representing the Knights.
While personal goals are on his mind with just a few weeks left until the WPIAL Class 2A championships at Pitt’s Trees Pool, he’s also amped up for the entire lot of Knoch swimmers and the potential for fast swims and possible record-setting performances.
“I feel pretty good right now,” said Lavorini, who has qualified for every WPIAL individual event except the 100-yard butterfly. He hopes to get that cut this week.
Lavorini qualified in every individual event each year since his freshman season.
“As we get closer, we’ll start to taper and do less yardage in practice to prepare to be our strongest for WPIALs,” he said. “We have a lot on this team who understand what it takes to be ready for WPIALs, getting that rest and being mentally focused.
“I am excited. We have a nice group shaping up for WPIALs. We’re swimming pretty fast right now and can go even faster.”
Lavorini owns the fourth-fastest Class 2A time in the 200 individual medley and is fifth in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. He said the most likely game plan is to again enter the 200 IM and 100 breast.
“As long as I am in the fastest heat, I am good with that,” said Lavorini, who said Penn State Behrend, a highly competitive Division III program, is a likely landing spot to continue his swimming in college. “Last year, my best 200 time coming into WPIALs was 2:03 or something like that. I was in an outside lane, but I was in the fastest heat, and that helped me move up. I like Pitt’s pool, and I know that I can swim faster there, no matter what my times are going in.”
Lavorini last year stood high on the medals podium at WPIALs, where he was third in the 200 IM (1:55.84) and fifth in the 100 breast (58.99).
He went on to states, where he made the consolation finals twice, finishing 10th in both events.
While not wanting to get too ahead of himself, Lavorini does hope to make the championship finals at Bucknell this year.
“I just try to take it day-by-day and not worry about things too far down the road or what will happen when I get to college,” Lavorini said. “I am living in each moment now, but I know the future has some good things for me.”
Several Knoch swimmers are savoring the current moments and eyeing improvements in the weeks ahead.
Junior Jacob Ruediger has raised his level this season with several WPIAL qualifications. In a recent listing of the top times, he was 11th in the 500 free, 13th in the 200 IM and 14th in the 100 breast.
He finished 11th in the 200 IM and 14th in the 500 at last year’s WPIAL championships.
Fellow junior Olivia Walewski took 12th in the girls 100 back and 14th in the 200 free at last year’s WPIAL meet. She has qualified for WPIALs in multiple events. She owns the seventh-fastest Class 2A time in the 100 back (1:01.56).
“I am pretty confident going into these last few weeks before WPIALs,” said Walewski, who will swim at WPIALs for the third time. “I am excited for WPIALs to go and swim fast. I was nervous my first WPIALs, but I have learned how to manage that better and be prepared to do well.”
Sophomore Brady Bleicher will return to WPIALs after placing 11th in the 100 back in his debut last February.
Close to a dozen of the 19 Knoch swimmers will swim at WPIALs, including seniors Josephine Graper and Aedan Smith, junior Talon Smith, sophomores Ryan Karwoski and Ryleigh Kabala and freshmen Rachel Karwoski, McCale Buser and Ian Walewski.
While all of the three boys and girls relay lineups are yet to be officially finalized, Knoch coach Helene Rovnan feels that whatever lineups are formed will have a mix of experience and newcomers ready to make an impact.
Olivia Walewski and Kabala were on last year’s girls 200 medley relay which medaled at WPIALs in eighth (1:52.88).
The boys 200 medley relay of Bleicher, Lavorini, Smith and Ruediger just missed a WPIAL medal, taking ninth (1:43.62), and the same four placed 10th in the 200 free relay (1:34.72).
Rovnan said those who will make up the WPIAL contingent and the other team members have meshed to make this season a special one.
“Everyone is valuable in some form and brings something unique to the teams,” said Rovnan, a South Africa native and Nebraska graduate who represented her home country in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
“We set individual and team goals, and they have worked really hard to achieve them throughout the season. We are further ahead this year than we were last year. I am hoping that we can take everyone who is going to WPIALs to states. A lot of them are right up there in the top-eight range and can achieve those times. The relays are fast, and there are a couple of individuals who can still get WPIAL cuts. They are ready to take each step that is left that will help them get to states.”