Mt. Lebanon swimmer racing toward record career
Mt. Lebanon's Sylvia Roy takes a breather after some sprint work in the pool.
Though just a freshman, Mt. Lebanon's Sylvia Roy owns one of the top two times in the 100-yard backstroke this season.
Mt. Lebanon's Sylvia Roy glides through the water during a recent workout.
Mt. Lebanon's Sylvia Roy prepares for the start of the race.
Mt. Lebanon's Sylvia Roy ranks among the top swimmers in the WPIAL in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke.
When Mt. Lebanon freshman Sylvia Roy entered high school in the fall, she was just trying to keep her head above water.
“It was a bit of an adjustment because the school is so big,” Roy said. “Finding my way around was one of the hardest parts.”
When Roy located the pool, she settled in.
It has been smooth sailing ever since.
Though only 14 years old, Roy already ranks second in the state in the 50-yard freestyle and sixth in the 100-yard backstroke.
Roy’s time of 23.2 in the 50 free is one-tenth off the school record set by Katie Ford. A 12-time scholastic All-American, Ford swims at North Carolina. Ford, who was a state runner-up, owns the second-best time in the WPIAL for the 50 free.
The WPIAL mark is 22.71 set by Gateway’s Olivia Livingston in 2018. An Illinois sophomore, Livingston also holds the PIAA state record of 22.73 set in 2017.
In the backstroke, Roy is chasing Ford’s school record as well as Fox Chapel’s Talia Bugel.
A junior, Bugel is the defending WPIAL champion. Bugel’s current time of 56.73 is a shade faster than her best mark of 56.62. The WPIAL record is 53.59 set in 2015 by North Allegheny’s Jacquelyn Du, who swam at Yale. The PIAA standard is 53.08 set in 2014 by Hershey’s Meaghan Raab, who swam at Georgia
“Sylvia may be a freshman but she’s the real deal,” said Lebo swim coach Tom Donati. “She’s going to be special.”
At 6 feet, Roy already stands out. Instead of playing volleyball or basketball, she opted for swimming.
“I’ve been tall all my life but I wasn’t into (those sports) when I was younger,” Roy said.
Influenced by her mother and sister, Roy started swimming for the Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club at age 5. She soon shattered records. She earned Allegheny Swimmer of the Year honors and broke the 100-yard backstroke record when she was 12.
Roy’s mother is Alexis Fedorchak. She was the The Almanac 1992 female Athlete of the Year as well as a multiple time WPIAL and PIAA state champion. She went on to excel at Indiana University, which produced Olympians such as Mark Spitz and Lilly King.
“I aspire to be as good as my mother was but I definitely want to be known as myself,” Roy said.
Roy’s sister, Vivian, is her teammate. A junior, she placed sixth in the 100 back at last year’s WPIAL championships with a 57.62. She was ninth in the 50 free, clocking a 24.72.
“I really like having (Vivian) as a teammate. She’s a great leader,” said Roy. “It’s great having her as a big sister because she helps me with my problems. We’re not too competitive and we can separate our roles as teammates from sisters.”
Donati sees the duo as a great working pair similar to way the Connors sisters, Taylor and Kaitlyn, were at Upper St. Clair. Taylor was the 2021 WPIAL champion in the 100 and 200 free while Kaitilyn won the 50 free in 23.75.
“Vivian is special too,” Donati said. “She and Sylvia are talented. They click together, talk to each other, come to practice and work real hard. It’s tough when a sister comes in and swims the same events. Jealousy is an evil thing but they are awesome about their events. Vivian has been very supportive of Sylvia. She is a good role model for her sister.”
The Roy sisters, coupled with Marley Reese and Adriane Haggins, make up Lebo’s 200 medley relay, which is ranked No. 3 in the state with a 1:46.3 time. Vivian starts the race, Reese does the butterfly and Haggins swims the breastroke.
“Sylvia brings it home for us,” Donati said of the freestyle anchor leg. “When you have a team of girls like that, good things happen. We are excited about what’s to come.”
Swim teams are prepping for the WPIAL championships set for March 3-4 at a site yet to be determined. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the finals were held at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool.
North Allegheny, which has won 13 titles in a row, is expected to win the girls team title followed by Fox Chapel. Lebo, however, is expected to be in the mix for third with Seneca Valley and Upper St. Clair.
Roy and Donati, however, have high expectations for individual achievement at the district as well as the state meet to be held March 16-19 at the Kinney Natatorium on the Bucknell University campus in Lewisburg.
Roy’s best bet to win the gold could be in the 50 free.
“My goal is to win the 50 free and the 100 back. I hope to win WPIALs in at least one of those events and qualify for states,” Roy said. “I’ve swum at big meets before so I don’t think my (lack of) experience is too much of a big deal.”
Currently, her time of 23.2 in the 50 free is a shade off the pace set by Lily King of Mt. Pleasant. The two will not face off at the WPIAL championships because King competes in Class AA. But Kaitlyn Connors is the defending champion in the Class AAA division.
“Sylvia’s a seasoned swimmer,” Donati said. “She’s tough. Obviously as a freshman, she’s not going to be the favorite but she is going to give people a run for their money.
“Sylvia wants to be special. She’s driven and works hard. We are excited about her future. She is only going to get better.”
Age: 14
Birthday: March 19
Parents: Alexis and Kevin
Siblings: Vivian, 16
School: Mt. Lebanon
Year: Freshman
Food: Pasta
Color: Green
Restaurant: Chipotle
Favorite athlete: Reagan Smith
Dream Destination: Greece
People might be surprised to know this about you: “Nothing. I don’t do anything too shocking.”
Person you would like to have dinner with: Taylor Swift.