Butler Y swimmers carry momentum into state meet
Butler YMCA swim coach Corrie Jones remembers the team her daughter swam for in the program.
“That was the team with Camryn Forbes and so many other good swimmers, about seven or eight years ago,” the 20-year YMCA coaching veteran said. “We’re trying to get the program back to that point.”
This year’s squad is certainly doing its share.
The 2023 Butler Y team placed third overall out of 31 teams at the recent District Championships held in Geneva, Ohio. Butler’s girls placed second overall, the boys third. The age 13-14 Butler boys and 15-21 girls both placed first.
“That was our best showing in districts in quite a while,” Jones said.
Butler Y swimmers who won district championships — either individually or part of a relay — were Ann-Katherine Burns, Kendall Cranmer, Garrett Kaiser, Adrian Lavorini, Giona Lavorini, Grace Olshanski, Gabriella Parfitt, Katie Reott, Abigail Vance and Addison Vance.
Adrian Lavorini, a freshman on Knoch’s swim team, won six individual events at the district meet — the 400-yard individual medley, 1,650 freestyle, 200 IM, 1,000 freestyle, 200 breaststroke and 500 freestyle. He set meet records in the first five.
“Adrian’s stamina is impressive,” Jones said. “But between Knoch swim practice — which is at our pool — and our YMCA practices, he swims 8,000 or 9,000 yards a night. He is in tremendous condition.”
“I swim our high school practice, then switch over to the Y practice,” Adrian said. “We do dry land three nights a week, too, which involves some weight room work.”
The 200- individual medley record Adrian set was previously held by eventual United States Olympic swimmer Eric Namesnik. That record was 2 minutes, 4.3 seconds. Adrian swam the event in 2:01.52.
“I never thought about breaking that record coming into this season,” Adrian said. “Then I competed at the Pitt Christmas Meet (Dec. 18-21) and swam a 2:03.9. Coach Jones and I talked about it and figured that record was attainable.”
“He actually beat the record there, but it had to occur in a YMCA meet to officially count,” Jones said.
Adrian admitted that he’s looking forward “to seeing my name go on that record board at the pool.”
Giona Lavorini and Abigail Vance broke district meet records for Butler as well. Giona is Adrian’s sister.
“They are very competitive with each other,” Jones said. “I love that because they make each other better.”
The YMCA state meet is this weekend at West Virginia University. The national meet is April 2-7 in Greensboro, N.C.
Butler Y swimmers who have already qualified for the national meet are Burns, Giona Lavorini, Olshanski, Reott, Abigail and Addison Vance.
Adrian hopes to be joining them.
“I’m .7 of a second off the qualifying time in the 200 breast and three seconds off in the 400 IM,” he said. “I think I can get there at the state meet.”
“Adrian wasn’t really pushed in those events at districts,” Jones said. “He’ll be pushed at states and he’ll go faster.”
Butler’s YMCA team had 45 swimmers competing at the district meet.
