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Ramsey swims to the forefront at Mt. Lebanon

By Eleanor Bailey 7 min read
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Brian Ramsey of Mt. Lebanon is one of the top breaststroke swimmers this season. Because he was runner-up last year, Ramsey should be among the favorites to win the 100-yard event during the WPIAL championships set for March 4-5 at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool.

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Brian Ramsey

Brian Ramsey may have gotten a slow start in swimming, but the Mt. Lebanon native is hardly a late bloomer. In a scant few years, the senior has become one of the fastest breaststrokers in the district, not to mention a Division I recruit with aspirations of qualifying for Olympic Trials.

“Brian has come so far in such a short period of time. Just amazing,” said Lebo head coach Tom Donati.

Dubbed the “Boy From The Bower Hill Swim Club,” Ramsey began swimming in the summer between his sixth and seventh year in grade school. A soccer player initially, he switched to swimming when he entered high school.

“After swimming a best time, I gave it some thought but I didn’t start swimming year round or competitively until eighth grade. I was going to tryout (for soccer) my freshman year but I decided not to. When I got to high school, I needed something to do,” explained the 17-year-old son of Karen and Scott Ramsey. “So, I thought I would try (swimming) and see how it goes.”

In less than four years, it has, indeed, gone swimmingly. In fact, Ramsey is a two-year, two-time All-American, who won the 200-meter breaststroke at the USA Swimming Futures Championships last summer in Greensboro, N.C. He also secured second in the 100-meter breaststroke. Additionally, he was the WPIAL runner-up in the 100-yard breast and a place winner (seventh) at the PIAA championships in 2015. Plus, his breaststroke leg in the 200-yard medley relay enabled Lebo to score sixth-place honors at the district and state levels. Most recently, Ramsey shattered the pool record at Bethel Park with a 58.94 time. He already owns the school record at Mt. Lebanon for the event, setting that standard as a sophomore during the WPIAL championships.

“I was happy with the pool record,” Ramsey said. “Two years ago, I missed it by one-tenth of a second. So I was happy to finally do it. It’s special to do it at a school like Bethel Park because there has been a lot of success here. To have the pool record (at Bethel Park) makes it more memorable.”

Ramsey’s coaching staff is steeped in the winning tradition at Bethel Park. Donati is a graduate and his breaststroke coach, Kevin McLaughlin, was a standout in the event as a Hawk as well as at the University of Pittsburgh, to which Ramsey is committed. Plus, longtime BP girls’ coach Bill Kennedy is a volunteer assistant at Lebo.

“Mr. Kennedy was at Bethel during their streak of WPIAL championships. He knows the individuals and the whole sport. It’s so valuable to have a coach like him on staff,” Ramsey said.

“Kevin (McLaughlin) has really helped me with my breaststroke. He knows all I need to know for the stroke and he’s really helped me develop it.”

“Coach Donati is such a positive influence,” Ramsey continued of his mentor, who also skippers the Bower Hill swim program. “He’s pushed me through the tough days. Thanks to him, I have learned to keep on working.”

Ramsey, indeed labors. He recalls his hardest workout as doing 60, 100s in 1:10 or under or the high-yardage sessions, such as 13,000 yards over the holiday breaks.

“Brian works so hard,” Donati said. “He truly is a leader on the team. He has gotten stronger because of his work ethic, particularly in the weight room.”

Ramsey has also improved quickly because he is motivated by the progress of his teammates, particularly Jack Lanphear. He placed third in last year’s district finals in the breaststroke and trailed Ramsey at states in the event by a scant .17 seconds. Lanphear recently set the breaststroke record during the Team Pittsburgh Invitational held over the holiday break at Trees Pool. Competing for the Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club, Lanphear set a new Allegheny Mountain Swimming men’s short-course standard in the 200-yard breaststroke in the 15-18 age group with a time of 2 minutes, 1.23 seconds.

“My teammates push me a lot,” Ramsey said. “I just know Jack is always right behind me pushing me, too. If I’m at all off, he will remind me. He brings out the best in me.”

By the time the WPIAL championships are held March 3-4 at Trees Pool, Ramsey plans to be swimming his best. He has set his sights on winning the breaststroke as well as the 200-yard individual medley. At the state championships, he hopes to also duplicate those winning performances. Plus, he’d like to guide his relays to victory and put his team on the podium. Last year, Lebo finished third at WPIALs, behind champion North Allegheny and Upper St.Clair. The Blue Devils placed sixth in the state.

Ramsey should be the favorite in the breaststroke as last year’s champion, Casey Melzer, graduated. However, the IM features a competitive field that includes Kevin Liu from USC (fourth) and Tyler Stevenson from Franklin Regional (third). Lanphear finished 10th.

“Breaststroke is my best and favorite stroke so I want to do good at that. This year, I want to win both of my events at WPIALs but I know the IM will be tough. It will depend on who else swim it,” Ramsey said. “At states, I want to win the breast and make finals in the 200 IM. I’m going to do the best I can.”

As far as the team’s objectives, Ramsey admitted it would “take a miracle” to topple North Allegheny, which has won the past four titles. However, the Blue Devils hope to challenge USC for the runner-up slot. A preview of their showdown comes Feb. 18 when Lebo hosts the Panthers in a section dual meet. Last year, the Blue Devils upset USC but the Panthers went on to excel in the district and state meet.

“The highlight so far (in my career) was beating USC at our pool. It was a great moment. “Last year, though, Coach Donati said that we woke a sleeping giant and this year they will be ready to get their revenge on us,” Ramsey said of the Panthers. “But, we think we can challenge them at WPIALs. We think we can be runners-up.”

After high school, Donati believes Ramsey can be a success. He selected Pitt over Kentucky, Virginia Tech, North Carolina State, Louisville and Ohio State University. Ramsey will study computer science while swimming for the Panthers in the ACC.

“I’m glad to see Brian attending Pitt,” Donati said. “It will be a great fit for both involved.”

Ramsey expects to swim the breaststroke at Pitt. As far his goals, he said, “I hope to make NCAAs and get out of preliminaries for Olympic Trials.”

To reach his goals, Ramsey knows that he must continue to work. His knows his late start into the sport has forced him to play catch-up on the mechanics of all his strokes. He rates his strokes in order of efficiency as breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle then backstroke.

“Backstroke is most problematic for me because my kick is not as efficient,” he said. “And, we’re all working on our underwater swims. Last year’s top five flyers all had great ones so at Lebo we are focusing on improving that aspect of our strokes. It will make us more competitive. As far as my actual (breaststroke), my pullouts are not where they should be. I’m working on that because it will make me faster.”

Ramsey is also working on his mental toughness. He knows that he does not possess the experience of other swimmers, who got their start at younger ages.

“I have always been able to race at my best and do what I always wanted to do but the mental aspect gets to me. Races and meets can be stressful. Sometimes I get too eager and anxious to race. You can’t get too hasty. Sometimes you have to play it safe. But that’s the best part of the sport, getting up on the blocks, diving in and racing.”

And, Donati is anxious to see Ramsey swim at the upcoming championships. “I really am looking forward to seeing him swim then,” he said. “It should be fun.”

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