William Clark

Izzy Ketter said she will miss “the pasta party before PACS the most” and that she is proud of “developing good leadership and teaching skills over the past four years [while] learning from other teammates and coaches.” Ketter committed to Shippensburg University for swimming and is planning to study business.

The 6-6 girls swim team honored their seniors on Jan. 24 when the Warriors faced off against Pottsgrove High School. After a win, 104-57, the swimmers celebrated Samantha Cancro, Issabelle Ketter, Truly Sommer and Bella Catania. 

The team opened the meet with their cheer called Banzai, which originated from a Japanese battle cry. The Warriors’ version has been turned into a call-and-response cheer. One person calls out “Banzai” and jumps, while the others respond. 

A few of the girls on senior night had notable performances including Sommer in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke, taking first in both races. 

After the meet, a few underclassmen read speeches about their favorite seniors. 

“Annie Rhodes and Lyla Gottfrid made me bawl my eyes out. Their words were so sweet and made me realize the positive impact that I’ve had on them,” said Cancro.

While some of the seniors shared team memories–going out to get food after a long practice, winning the PAC title with friends, or watching someone swim to a personal record–others celebrated individual accomplishments.

Sommer shared a few: 

“Dropping nine seconds at PACs my freshman year, getting second overall in the 500 freestyle, [and taking] third overall in the backstroke relay at the North Penn relay carnival this year.”

Catania’s favorite memories came outside the pool.

“My favorite memories this year were singing the national anthem with Emma Sutera, dying everyone’s hair in the locker room for PACs, and the bus ride to the Cardinals,” she said. 

Sommer added that enjoying the song “No Pole” by Don Toliversome with her teammates will be one of her favorite memories. 

The girls are also happy to have kept the two-year old duck tradition alive. 

“Whenever anyone from the girls team gets a personal best, you get to put a sticker on the rubber duck. It symbolizes all the achievements that the girls have done and reminds us to keep pushing,” said Ketter. 

The rubber duck can sometimes be found above the diving board on the pool deck.

Sommer said she has always enjoyed going out to breakfast at the end of winter training week, a long and grueling part of the season. 

The girls have continued enjoying other traditions as well, such as dyeing their hair as the season closes.

“The whole girls team does this together. It is such a fun team bonding activity,” said Cancro. 

The girls shared some parting words as well. 

“I have been swimming since I was 7, and I owe much of my lacrosse success to swimming for giving me the endurance and speed needed during games and practices. Swimming also taught me how to push through mental battles. It’s an extremely tough sport with early mornings and long practices, but it made me a stronger person, and I will forever be thankful for that,” said Catania, who committed to Monmouth University to play lacrosse. 

Ketter added that she will miss “the pasta party before PACS the most” and that she is proud of “developing good leadership and teaching skills over the past four years [while] learning from other teammates and coaches.” Ketter committed to Shippensburg University for swimming and is planning to study business. 

Sommer said her biggest supporters are “My family, specifically my mom. She has done so much for me throughout my swimming career.” Sommer will continue to swim this season at the District I Championships in York, PA. There, she will swim the 500 freestyle and the 200 Individual Medley. She committed to Lynn University, where she will swim. 

Cancro said, “I’ll miss the community of the swim team, both boys and girls. I’ve grown attached to all of them and will be so sad when it’s over.”