Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair swimmers qualify for Olympic Trials
Kevin Liu of Upper St. Clair and Brian Ramsey from Mt. Lebanon will join Lebo native and University of Virginia standout Leah Smith at the U.S. Olympic Trials for swimming this summer. The meet, set for June 26 through July 3, will determine the members of the team that will compete in the Summer Olympics set for Aug. 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Both earned their berths during the Pittsburgh Invitational held at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool, the site of their recent WPIAL triumphs this past February. The long-course meet (meters not yards) is designed for the Pitt swimmers as well as others who have had significant swims this season.
“It gives swimmers an opportunity to compete long course while they were still tapered from their short-course season,” explained USC Swim Club coach David Shraven.
“It’s been 16 years since I’ve had a swimmer,” explained Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club skipper Tom Donati. “Used to be you could qualify doing short course but it’s harder to qualify long course. They made it more difficult.”
Thus making Liu’s and Ramsey’s achievements all the more impressive. Both are seniors in high school.
Liu swam a 57.06, .13 under the cut time of 57.19 in the 100-meter backstroke and a 2:03.62, .17 under the cut time of 2:03.79 in the 200-meter back.
Ramsey earned his cut time by placing first in the prelims for the 100-meter breaststroke. He clocked a 1:03.60, .09 under the cut time of 1:03.69.
“I’m really glad and excited for both boys,” said Donati, who once coached at USC before moving over to Mt. Lebanon, where he resides.
“It’s just been a great journey for Brian,” continued Donati. “He continues to amaze me.”
Dubbed the “Boy From the Bower Hill Swim Club,” Ramsey did not start swimming until the summer between his sixth and seventh year in grade school. A soccer player initially, he switched to swimming competitively when he entered high school.
Ramsey earned silver medals in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200 individual medley during the recent PIAA championships held at Bucknell University. He won the district championship in the individual medley and set a WPIAL record in the breast, although he was edged out of the gold medal by his teammate, Jack Lanphear.
Meanwhile, Liu continued his rise throughout the season. After finishing runner-up to Ramsey in the IM, he secured silver in the backstroke at the PIAA championships. He was the WPIAL champion in that event. “When we rested Kevin for the end of the season, we had our sights set on doing well at WPIALs and states, while also being prepared to get his Trials cuts the following week,” explained Schraven. “I’m really happy the plan worked.
“Kevin demonstrated what a talented swimmer he is being able to switch gears and swim substantial personal best times in long course after having trained short course for the past seven months. All his hard work paid off and USC swimming is very proud of what Kevin has accomplished.”
After their participation in the Olympic Trials, Liu and Ramsey will embark on their collegiate careers. Liu will swim at the University of South Carolina while Ramsey will compete for Pitt.
Meanwhile, Smith is a seasoned veteran, having already competed on a worldwide level. She is an NCAA champion, Pan Pacific gold medalist and record holder as a member of the 4×200 freestyle relay, and a U.S. champion in that relay during the World Aquatics Championships. Last summer, she won the 400-meter freestyle event at the World University Games.
The junior most recently defended her NCAA titles in the 500 and 1,650 freestyle races. She swam a 15:32.72 in the longer distance swim and a 4:31.33 in the shorter event during the finals held March 19 at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta. The victories helped the Cavaliers to a fifth-place finish as a team.
Smith has more individual NCAA titles (4) than any other UVA student-athlete and ties Mitzi Kremer (1987-89) of Clemson for the second-most national crowns in ACC women’s swimming and diving history.