Butler YMCA swimmers excel at state meet
Giona Lavorini did not know her time when she finished the 200-yard breaststroke at the recent YMCA swimming state championship meet.
“My vision is a bit blurry, I’m going to be getting contacts soon,” she said. “I couldn’t make out my time on the board and didn’t find out until I got out of the water and saw my coach.”
Corrie Jones, Butler YMCA coach, let Lavorini in on what many at West Virginia University’s natatorium already knew. The swimmer had just obliterated the meet’s record in the event for females in the 15-21 age group. Her time was two minutes, 16.89 seconds, beating the old standard by more than four seconds. She entered the meet ranked No. 1 in the event.
Lavorini was one of six first-place finishes Butler earned at the meet. She also won the 100 breaststroke, Katie Reott took the 50 freestyle and both girls teamed with Addison Vance and Grace Olshanski to top the field in the 200 medley relay.
“I’m really excited about their effort because they weren’t tapered yet,” Jones said. “They will be tapered for the national meet (Monday through Friday in Greensboro, N.C.). ”I know they can go faster.
“They’ve accepted the challenge of the work and they trust me as a coach.”
On the boys side, Adrian Lavorini won state crowns in the 1,650 freestyle and the 200 breaststroke.
Giona Lavorini is no stranger to big events. Still just a sophomore at Knoch High School, she has already competed in two WPIAL and two high school state championship meets and also qualified for YMCA Nationals a year ago.
“I really don’t get nervous before I swim,” she said. “I’m used to the bigger meets and the hype that comes with them.”
Swimmers are always looking to set a personal-best time and Lavorini is aiming high.
“The goal is 2:15 (in the 200 breaststroke),” she said. “Being tapered, we’ll see.”
If she reaches that time, Lavorini would qualify for USA Swimming’s Junior National meet, scheduled this summer in California.
Qualifying for YMCA nationals is based strictly on time, not place, and Reott secured a spot by swimming her best time in the 50 freestyle at WVU, 23.77 seconds. Her previous best was 24.07.
“Taking off three-tenths of a second from your best time in the 50 is almost unheard of,” Jones said.
“I’d been trying to get under 24 for the last few meets,” Reott said. “From high school and now with YMCA, I’m pretty happy with my season. My goal an nationals is to make finals (top 16 in preliminaries).”
Also swimming for Butler at the national meet will be Ann-Katherine Burns and Abigail Vance.
