Bethel Park swimmer a double winner at WPIALS
Jackson Edwards knows his limitations. So while the Bethel Park High School junior won the 100-yard butterfly and backstroke events during the WPIAL Class 3A championships held Feb. 26-27 at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool, don’t expect to see him competing in the individual medley anytime soon.
“No, no way,” Edwards said of the event that features four different disciplines. “My breaststroke is not good.”
Currently, his backstroke is his best race as evidenced by his showing on Day 2 of the competition. Edwards finished first with a 48.88, touching out North Allegheny’s Danny Lesinski (49.20) and Upper St. Clair’s Ben Whiteford (49.32) for the gold medal.
His butterfly, however, is coming on strong as demonstrated during the first day of the competition. Edwards garnered the gold with a 48.97 mark, a scant .55 off the All-America standard, and ahead of the second-place mark of 49.26 secured by North Allegheny’s Mason Shantz.
“The backstroke excites me a little bit more than the fly,” Edwards said. “It’s always been my event. I like it better because it’s always been my stroke since I was little.”
Edwards started swimming at age 7. Shortly thereafter records started to fall. He broke Allegheny Mountain Swimming standards as a youth before he burst onto the scholastic scene three years ago, setting new standards as a freshman, including a 200-yard freestyle mark.
“I am a good freestyle,” he insisted. “I just haven’t been really working on it as much as my butterfly and backstroke this season.”
At past WPIAL championships, Edwards had entered the 50 free and 100 back, but because the 50 field was congested this winter, he opted instead to race in the fly
“The 50 was a little bit more contested this year, so I tried to do the 100 fly to give myself a guaranteed win,” Edwards said. “Plus, I feel like I have more potential to be a flyer.”
Because he entered the fly with the best time this season, Edwards, indeed, knew victory was within his grasp.
“I knew I was probably going to win it with my seed time and how well I swam it during the season.
“Underwaters,” Edwards added quickly, were his secret to success. “I’m not the best flyer on top of the water but the underwater is what’s carrying me through it.
“It still was a great race and I enjoyed it,” he continued. “I was excited to win the butterfly.”
Edwards was even more thrilled to claim victory in the backstroke as he entered the event seeded second behind Ben Whiteford of Upper St. Clair. While scholastic rivals, the pair compete on the same swim club team.
“Being seeded second was a little bit of an impetus,” Edward said. “I know Ben very well. We practice together and I race him all the time. It was just more like a friendly little battle that we do all the time.
“I think it was a great swim for both of us,” he continued. “Even though there were some things that I could clean up, I’m really excited about the win.”
Edwards can’t wait for the PIAA championships being held March 14-16 at Bucknell University. He’s trying to go 47 seconds in both races.
“I know that I’m going to drop some time but I’m just trying to swim the best I can and have fun while I’m there.”
Experience provides Edwards an edge. He said it helped him especially at the WPIAL meet.
“I have always been around the top dogs, and I guess I just got tired of getting second and getting third,” he said. “I really put the work in this summer and this short course season, and it looks like the work’s paid off.”
Notes: Edwards helped BP’s medley relay team scored third. The bronze-medal unit also included Caden Powell, TJ Strock and Connor Blocklin. Edwards, Blocklin and Strock combined with Charlie Werts for seventh in the 200 free relay.
Visit www.wpial.com for complete results of the WPIAL championships.