Freshmen swimmers Raymer, Holmes make immediate impact for Gateway

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, January 11, 2019 | 8:24 PM

The WPIAL swimming regular season has moved past the midway point, and the championships are just over a month away.

Gateway is developing a contingent that will battle for top times and place finishes at Pitt’s Trees Pool.

The goals are clear for Gators veterans as well as newcomers such as freshman Summer Raymer, who has made an impact in her inaugural foray into varsity competition.

“It’s great to have the support of my teammates and also be able to cheer them on,” said Raymer, who is hoping to be factor in the 200-yard freestyle and 500 free when WPIALs arrive.

“I’m pretty happy with what I’ve done so far. I want to continue to work hard and get ready for the challenging races at WPIALs.”

Raymer has posted a WPIAL cut that places her among the top 500 free swimmers in Class AAA, and she also recorded what Gateway coach Jonathan Moore said was a solid time in the 200 free.

She also has established a qualifying time in the 200 individual medley and is close in several other individual events.

“I think Summer is going to exceed expectations,” Moore said. “She was definitely excited to get here and swim on the high school level. She’s known a lot of these top swimmers she’s now swimming against most of her life from different club events. She might not have gone head-to-head against them, but she knows who they are. She’s well aware of where she stands and what she needs to do to be among the best in her events. She has that need to race and compete.”

Fellow freshman Andrew Holmes also has established himself with WPIAL cuts in his main events: the 200 and 500 frees. Moore said he has shown his versatility with strong swims in several other individual events.

“Hopefully, he can carry it through and qualify for the state meet in one or both of his (individual) events,” Moore said. “I think his concentration is focused well on WPIALs right now. He’s working hard, and its showing in his results.”

Junior Olivia Livingston, Moore said, is motoring toward what she hopes is another championship stretch in February and March. The owner of four WPIAL individual titles and two PIAA crowns (50 free) hopes to add a state title in the 100 free after runner-up finishes last year and in 2017.

“She knows what she needs to do in her third year, and she’s ready to perform,” Moore said. “She not only wants to defend titles she already has but also pick up an extra one. It’s business as usual for her.

“She is always aware of how she is swimming, no matter the level or importance of the event. She uses every opportunity in the water to get better. Every yard in practice is vitally important to the final goal.”

Moore said swimmers such as senior Nathan Gabriel, a WPIAL participant in the 50 free last year, fellow seniors Conor Farren and Bryce Sukel, junior Jess Stroh, sophomores Sam DiPalma and Peyton Brown and others are zeroing in on possible WPIAL qualifying marks.

Five of the six Gateway relays already have qualified for WPIALs.

Moore said the teams took key steps over the holiday break from competition.

“That was an important series of workouts for us,” Moore said. “We ramped up our yardage and hit a lot of technique. We want to peak the kids so when we get to the main run of the season before WPIALs, we can start pulling them back a little bit so they can feel rested even though they are still working. We didn’t have as many kids traveling over the holiday break, so we had a good group coming in on a daily basis.”

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MLove_Trib.

Tags: Gateway