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Process paying off for Upper St. Clair

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 3 min read
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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Upper St. Clair’s Ganesh Sivaramakrishnan coasted to victory in the 100-yard butterfly and set a new pool record of 50.85 during a meet against North Allegheny.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Upper St. Clair’s Josh Matheny, left, enjoys a light moment with his teammate as he cools down from one of his races.

Swimming is not rocket science as far as Dave Schraven is concerned.

“If you want to get faster,” said the Upper St. Clair and Pittsburgh Elite Aquatics swim teams coach, “you have to put the work in.”

Since taking a three-month hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Panthers have worked nonstop to lower their times and their labors are beginning to be rewarded. Records are falling as USC prepares for the WPIAL championships.

“When we started training in June, we never took a break outside of the forced three-week shutdown in December,” Schraven said referring to the period from Dec. 12-Jan. 4 when Gov. Tom Wolf and state health departments halted all activities in an effort to curtail a holiday surge in coronavirus cases. “Our break was in the spring. It’s helped us.”

Swimmers such as Ganesh Sivaramakrishnan and Daniel Wang have benefited most. They are USC’s premier backstrokers.

Sivaramakrishnan is also one of the top flyers in the WPIAL. He recently set a pool record of 50.85 in the 100-yard butterfly.

“Ganesh is our most improved swimmer since last spring,” Schraven said. “He really committed to his underwater swims. For those two strokes – the back and the fly – one benefit most from that extra practice. He’s gotten faster because of the work he has put into it.”

“Daniel’s also improved a lot,” Schraven added. “He’s put a lot of effort into it, too.”

Ryan Senchyshak is another Panther that has progressed. He set the pace, leading off with a 48.17, as USC swam a 3:14.53 and won the 400-yard freestyle race that clinched victory against North Allegheny. Senchyshak also anchored USC’s record-setting 200 free relay, which was finished in 1:28.53, and placed first individually in the 100 free.

“Ryan really rallied big time. Stepping up like that is a great kind of practice for WPIALs,” Schraven said. “Knowing you can step up at the end of a meet and find a way to get it done says a lot.”

Josh Matheny set the pool record in winning the 100-yard breaststroke in 54.60.

Matheny is a three-time WPIAL and PIAA champion in the breast. He holds records in both races and is a U.S. Olympic team hopeful. After this year’s state championship, he is headed to Indianapolis to compete in a long-course meet that will feature 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Cody Miller. He is already qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials set for June in Omaha, Neb.

“It’s definitely been a roller coaster year for Josh,” said Schraven, “but he’s doing great and training hard.”

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