The water ripples before the sunrise. Feet hit the deck. Laughter echoes through the pool. It is another early morning at Pennridge High School, and the Rams swim team is already working towards something big. This season, the team is different than normal. The boy’s team is the strongest it has been in years, showing confidence and focus after a long rebuilding period. The girls’ team is facing a much tougher crowd this year, but continues to hold its ground with determination and heart. Both teams started with a big win against our rivals, Quakertown. The boys dominated with a 129–51 victory, led by sophomore Timothy Hong, who scored 12 points. The girls followed with a 125–53 win. Junior standout Sadie Hogan led with 12 points, while Quakertown’s Evelyn Einolf and Becca Cunnane each scored 10 points.
Coach Jenna says her favorite part of coaching is watching her swimmers grow over time. “Each athlete who sets a goal and then achieves and surpasses that goal is my favorite,” she said with a smile. “It’s not always about being the fastest. It’s about being coachable and working hard.” One thing she takes pride in is that the boys’ team has earned the sportsmanship award twice under her leadership. For her, that recognition means more than any trophy.
The upcoming schedule is packed with many meets! There will be 12 dual meets this season, six home and six away. When they are not competing, all the swimmers train from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., switching between the pool and the weight room. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, alarm clocks ring before dawn for morning practice starting at 5:15 a.m. It’s a grueling rhythm, but it’s how Pennridge keeps improving. Many of these swimmers train year-round, preparing not just for conference meets but also for high-stakes events like Districts and State competitions.
That high-level experience is shown in athletes like Sadie Hogan. Last season, she reached the PIAA State Championships at Bucknell University. She placed ninth in the 100 butterfly, a swimming stroke, with a personal best of 56.80 seconds, and finished 23rd in the 100-meter backstroke. Teammates Alin Grate, Ethan Whitehurst, and Michael Timm also competed at Districts, building momentum for this year. Even in diving, Pennridge made history as Henry Huffnagle and Brycen Hulse became the first Rams divers to qualify for Districts in seven years.
For swimmers like junior Allison Kessler, the experience goes deeper than competition. “Sometimes when practices are really hard or I just don’t want to go, I remind myself how important showing up is,” she said. “The team makes it easy. We sing, we dance, we laugh.” Freshman Kiera Daly added that swimming has taught her “how to do things tired or when I don’t want to.”
Coach Jenna believes that attitude will carry Pennridge far. “Each year brings a new team dynamic,” she said. “No two years are the same, and that’s okay.” Right now, one thing is clear. Whether the sun is rising over morning practice or the crowd is cheering during the final relay, the Pennridge Rams are swimming with heart, unity, and purpose.
Sources:
https://www.swimcloud.com/team/8992/
https://pennridgerams.org/main/teamschedule/id/3681675/seasonid/4933559
