LH grad Hamilton key in Bloomsburg鈥檚 success at PSACs
While he won’t be doing any intense training, Bloomsburg University swimmer Ian Hamilton plans on spending a portion of his offseason going to the beach and relaxing at local pools.
The 2023 graduate of Laurel Highlands High School, where he excelled at swimming, wrapped up his junior season last month before heading to Mexico for spring break.
“I love going to the beach and swimming,” Hamilton said. “I just enjoy being around the water, and a day at the beach is much different than training. Plus, I really don’t take much time off, as I will be back in the pool training around April. I will also be concentrating on my weight lifting program.”
Although his offseason will be short, Hamilton’s performance during the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships at the Graham Aquatic Center in York warranted some R&R.
Hamilton swam on the victorious 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams, and was third in the 100-yard freestyle to help the Huskies to a third-place finish in the team standings with 477 points. West Chester won the conference team title with 1,050 points. Gannon took second with 529.
Hamilton swam a “B” cut time of 45.04 for the national meet in the 100 freestyle. Teammate Jack Drake won the race in 44.30 and Gannon’s Nikita Poparcea was second in 44.90. Bloomsburg’s Andrew Holmes (45.45) placed fifth to put five Huskies in the top eight of the event.
A “B” cut time is not an automatic qualifier for the national meet, but swimmers with a “B” cut can still make it if selected.
Although Hamilton’s time didn’t qualify him for the national event, he was pleased with swimming a “B” cut.
“An ‘A’ cut is an automatic qualifier for nationals, but the ‘B’ cut puts your time in a chart with the other swimmers and a determination is made on who all qualifies,” Hamilton said. “I was definitely happy about the ‘B’ cut. I really wasn’t expecting to get that time. I would say it was one of my best races.”
Bloomsburg won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:21.47. Drake, Hamilton and Holmes were joined by Adler Zawondny in topping the field. Hamilton had the fastest split in 20.08 as the third leg. Holmes, who swam the anchor leg, finished his portion of the race in 20.17. Drake led off at 20.22 and Zawodny came in at 21.00.
Hamilton swam a 44.41 to bring home the gold medal as the anchor leg in the 400 freestyle relay that touched the wall in 2:59.61. Drake led off the race with a split of 44.45 before Tommy Houck completed his leg in 45.96. Holmes swam a split of 44.79 before giving way to Hamilton.
“I had a good split on both of those races,” Hamilton said. “We just work on a lot of repetitions for our relay races. There is a really quick time window for the exchanges, and, if you are too late, that will throw you off, however, if you are too early, the team will be disqualified. You need to find that time right in the middle.
“We have pretty much the same four all year, but the spots have fluctuated around for the season. I really enjoy swimming the anchor leg because there is so much adrenaline in it, especially when you swim the 400 freestyle relay because that is the last event of the meet. It was pretty close this year, as we were diving in for the anchor leg at pretty much the same time.”
Chad Jones joined Holmes, Drake and Hamilton in the 200 medley relay. The quartet finished fourth in a time of 1:30.84. The medley relay consists of each individual swimming 50 yards a stroke. Jones opened with the backstroke (24.22) before Holmes took on the breaststroke (24.72). Drake finished the butterfly in 21.58 and Hamilton had a split of 20.32.
Hamilton was fifth in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:40.81. He placed sixth in the 50 freestyle (20.75) and 12th in the 100 backstroke (51.91).
Hamilton was pleased to see his alma mater have a successful swimming season, including senior Kasey Mahoney, who was third in the 100 breaststroke and fourth in the 200 IM (individual medley) at the state meet. Mahoney will be a rival of Hamilton next season, as he will compete for PennWest Clarion.
“It is a great feeling when I see everyone succeeding back home,” Hamilton said. “I know Kasey Mahoney did really well, and I will see him next year, but as an opponent, which will be different, but I am happy for him. I knew when he was a freshman in high school and I was a senior that Kasey was going to be good, and he continues to get better.”