Mt. Lebanon swimmer golden at state championships
Trinity Ward of Mt. Lebanon surfaces for air during the 100-yard butterfly race. The sophomore captured the gold in the event at the PIAA championships held March 18-19 at Bucknell University.
Trinity Ward led off the 200-yard medley relay. She helped Mt. Lebanon’s foursome of Maddie Dorish, Sophia Donati and Emma Graham to a fifth-place showing at states. The Blue Devils finished third in the girls’ team standings.
Trinity Ward of Mt. Lebanon credits many for the gold medal that hung around her neck after winning the 100-yard butterfly during the PIAA swimming championships held March 18-19 at Bucknell University.
“During the race, I had no recollection of how I or anybody around me was doing and when I touched the wall and looked up and saw I had won, I felt so blessed by God. My parents, too, they have sacrificed a lot for me,” the Mt. Lebanon sophomore about her parents, Marion and Mark. “My coaches and my teammates have pushed me hard in the pool. It’s all connected. If I were swimming somewhere else, I would not be where I am. All my success comes from God.”
Ward’s wins and career has certainly taken a circuitous road. While she took lessons at a young age and joined a swim club in the third grade, she did not move to Mt. Lebanon until the week before she enrolled in kindergarten in the Mt. Lebanon School District. She had just moved from Pittsburgh.
“My parents wanted me to have a better life and they have worked so hard to provide that for me. I am so grateful. It’s been fun times and I have enjoyed making friends.”
Ward naturally took to the water. She said she embraced the sport because it brings out the best in people. “It’s a sport where it’s you versus yourself. You push yourself but there is also the team aspect. I love both aspects of it and I love to challenge myself.”
Whenever Ward hits the water, she, indeed, challenges herself. She picked one of the toughest strokes in which to compete.
“It’s a hard stroke,” she said of the fly. “It challenges you but I like it because you feel so powerful doing it.”
Ward demonstrated her power, particularly with her “underwaters”, in winning the state title. “Underwaters” are those glides seen in the Olympics, where swimmers stay submerged until surfacing for breath and their first strokes. Ward says she easily can go eight kicks for 25 yards but is trying to work towards 10-to-12 before coming up for air.
“I’m not quite there yet,” she said. “It’s a challenge because your body wants to take a breath and you are pushing yourself to the max. Underwaters are a big part of your stroke and they played a big role in my win.”
Ward came into the event seeded second but she powered to victory in 54.14, a shade faster than Ann Carozza. The West Chester East junior finished second in 54.46.
“I knew I had the ability to win but everybody else had the ability, too,” Ward said. “I had to fight and the last 25, I was good under water so it really did end up being a touch. Coming in, I just really focused on doing my personal best and having fun.”
Ward had plenty of fun as she helped Lebo to a Top 3 showing in the team standings. Avon Grove finished first with a 228.50 score and Upper Dublin edged Lebo for runner-up honors, 176-.50-140.
“We wanted to bring home a trophy but that didn’t happen but we are happy anyway because all the girls swam well. For some of them it was the first time they had come to states, so it was a great experience. It’s a young team so we are only going to get stronger.”
Ward, likewise, should improve over the next two years. She also brought home a bronze medal in the 100-yard freestyle with a 49.98 time. She finished behind Pennridge’s Morgan Scott (49.43) and WPIAL champion, Olivia Livingston of Gateway (49.53).
“I didn’t go out as fast as I wanted to,” Ward said. “I think if we didn’t have timed finals and had the prelims like in meets past, then I would have been able to fix what I did wrong. But, it is what it is and I’m happy.”
Ward helped the medley and 400 free relays to fifth and fourth places. The medley, which kicks off the meet, consisted of Ward in the lead-off spot, swimming backstroke, Maddie Dorish (breaststroke), Sophia Donati (fly) and Emma Graham on the anchor freestyle leg. Kathryn Nicholson, Donati, Graham and Ward comprised the free relay.
Lebo’s unit of Nicholson, Donati, Dorish and Graham took sixth in the 200 free relay. Individually, Nicholson secured sixth place in the 200 free and Dorish placed 10th in the breast.