Quaker Valley swimming gold medalist Besterman switches sports this winter

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, December 14, 2018 | 8:03 PM

Quaker Valley girls basketball player Sophie Besterman gave up a promising career in another sport to play this season.

Besterman, a junior, would have been the top returning performer on the Quaker girls swimming team, on which she shined the past two seasons.

“I always enjoyed playing basketball, but in high school, you have to choose,” said Besterman, who played basketball in elementary school and middle school. “I had the opportunity to swim with my sister and that will be (a) year I will never forget.

“I don’t want to look back on high school and regret not putting myself out there and playing a sport I really enjoy. It was not a hard decision for me.”

Besterman and her sister earned gold medals in the 200-yard freestyle relay and silver medals in the 400 freestyle relay at the 2017 WPIAL Class AA championship meet. The 200 freestyle relay team went on to finish ninth in the PIAA, just missing the podium.

Amelia Besterman is a sophomore on the Bloomsburg women’s team.

Last season, Sophie Besterman came in ninth in the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke and seventh in the 200 freestyle relay in the WPIAL.

First-year Quaker Valley girls basketball coach Tom Demko expects Besterman, a guard-forward, to have an impact.

“She definitely makes our team deeper,” he said. “Her athleticism provides me with several options on how to use her in our lineup.”

Besterman, who is 5-foot-8, said she has to find her place.

“It is fun to play to play on a team with such a great group of athletes,” she said. “The team has a good chance of doing very well.

“I want to work hard, learn from my coaches and teammates and have fun.”

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.

Tags: Quaker Valley