Senior Trevor Wilson has been on the swim team for four years. This is his first year going to States. He will be competing in the 100 yard backstroke on March 15 at Bucknell University, accompanied by his coaches Brian Kephart, Heidi Soldner and Megan Yingling.

Q: How does it feel to be the first Altoona swimmer to go to States since 2008?

A: “I am very proud of this accomplishment. Since I have been swimming for 10 years now, it feels great to accomplish something like this.”

Q: How are you preparing for the upcoming competition? 

A: “I am preparing for States by continuing to swim, working extra hard and having healthy eating habits.”

Q: What are your personal goals for the state competition?

A: “Right now I do not know my standings for States, but my personal goal is to swim my hardest and hopefully get a new best personal time.”

Q: What is going through your mind as we get closer to the day you compete?

A: “As the day I compete gets closer, I get a little bit more nervous, but I try not to think about it too much.”

Q: What has your training been like leading up to States?

A: “My training for States is very similar to the training for Districts; this time it’s more backstroke focused rather than all strokes.”

Q: Can you describe the moment you found out you made it to States?

A: “After I finished my 100 backstroke race, I looked at the time board and saw I placed first, and in that moment, I just was filled with so many positive emotions. I was just very proud that my hard work and commitment for this sport finally paid off.”

Q: What has been your biggest motivation during this swim season?

A: “My biggest motivation during the swim season was the team. This year we had such a great turnout, and I just wanted to help support the team as much as I could.”

Q: What has been your biggest challenge during the season and how did you overcome it?

A: “My biggest challenge this season was being exhausted. I am a very involved student, and I participate in a lot. I become exhausted very easily, but I just pushed through as much as I could and it worked out.”

Q: Do you have any advice you would like to give other swimmers, or other athletes, who are looking to go to states?

A: “My advice to others that hope to make it to States is to work very hard and to not just expect to make it to States. You have to put in the effort for something big to be returned.”

Q: What is your swimming career looking like after States?

A: “After States, I will probably take a little bit of a break from swimming but continue to stay active and fit, and then swim when I get to college in the fall at Penn State main. I am looking forward to joining the Penn State Club Swim Team.”

Four wrestlers will be advancing to the state competition March 6-8 at the Giant Center. Senior Luke Sipes, junior Braiden Weaver, sophomore Gavin Ciampoli and freshman Deklan Barr have qualified for the state competition. Coach Joel Gilbert will accompany these wrestlers when they go to Hershey, Pa. 

Sipes has been wrestling for several years. He has made it to States all years of his high school career. 

“I am super excited for one more opportunity to go compete at the state tournament; however, I’ve been here before, and I know what to expect,” Sipes said. 

Sipes is planning to continue his wrestling career at University of North Carolina after graduating. For younger wrestlers, looking to better themselves, Sipes advises them to work hard

“I would tell a younger wrestler to not worry so much about winning,” Sipes said. “I think that we hold ourselves back worrying so much about the outcome. Focus on performance and executing to your fullest ability and the results will take care of themselves. 

Weaver has been wrestling for 14 years, and has attended States three times during high school.

“I am feeling good because I got the two seed at States, and I am ranked number one in the state right now, so I feel confident and just ready to go,” Weaver said. 

Weaver, along with the other wrestlers, has been practicing all through the season, and now through the post-season. He hopes to perform well at States. 

“I go to club practice in State College, and I really think it has helped me get ready for states and prepare me mentally,” Weaver said. 

Ciampoli has been wrestling since kindergarten and has made it to States two times. He is hopeful for his competition. 

“It is exciting to be moving on to States,” Ciampoli said. “This year, it was a lot harder than it has been in the past years to make it to States.”

Just as Weaver, Sipes and Barr, Ciampoli has been training every day in an attempt to be at his best for States. 

“I work pretty hard and do double practices most of the days of the week, so I am excited to keep progressing and moving forwards,” Ciampoli said. 

Barr has been wrestling for eight years, but this will be his first time attending States. 

“It feels pretty good to be going to states as a freshman,” Barr said. “I am glad to see my hard work going towards something.” 

Barr is hopeful for his performance at States and his future wrestling career. 

“The future is looking pretty good, and I want to eventually be able to wrestle in college,” Barr said. 

Six members from the indoor track team competed at States on March 2 at Penn State University. Sophomore Jill Long was seeded 20th in the triple jump but ended up placing ninth. Coaches Mike Adams and Paula Foreman traveled to State College with these six athletes. 

“It was very cool to move up, and it gives me more confidence going into outdoor track,” Long said. “Being seeded so low and then making finals was just such a great experience.”

Senior Triumph Kilmartin placed fourteenth in the high jump. 

“I am happy with my placement,” Kilmartin said. “I am especially happy since I was going against the girl who is ranked number one in the nation.”

For the distance medley relay, composed of senior Mary Stoltz, junior Brookelynn Weaver, sophomores Brionna Adams and Ashlyn Noce, they placed seventh overall. 

“It felt so unreal to compete at States my senior year,” Stoltz said. “It was overall just a great experience.” 

The upperclassmen inspired Adams and Noce with their motivation.

“I have overall learned how to work as a team and just being able to support each other while we are running,” Noce said.

The gymnastics team competed Feb. 21 and 22 at Huntington High School in their States championship. They won first place for the second year in a row in the Gold Division. Coach Mark Biselli took the girls to States and led them to victory.

Senior captain Emma Bettwy is proud of the team’s accomplishments.

“I was super excited to win and proud of my teammates because they put in so much hard work,” Bettwy said.

Bettwy is sad to be leaving, but advises her younger teammates to work hard during the upcoming seasons.

“Don’t give up after one bad meet and remember that your teammates always have your back,” Bettwy said.

Sophomore Taylor Knepper is proud to have seen the team make it this far.

“It was rewarding to win States, knowing we had worked so hard to get there and to get the win,” Knepper said.

Knepper believes this season has given her many new skills and relationships.

“I think teamwork and being able to work together is the key to succeeding in gymnastics,” Knepper said.

On Friday, March 7, the girls’ basketball team will play against the Norwin Lady Knights. This game will be one of five games that determine if they make it to the state championships. The team will be led by coach Chris Fleegle through the next several weeks. 

“Only one team advances from District Six, so we had to win the District Six championship against State College, which we did,” senior Melana Eyer said. 

Eyer is excited to partake in the competition to States, starting on March 7. 

“We play Norwin Lady Knights on Friday [March 7] at 7 p.m.,” Eyer said. “We are definitely hoping to win because for the past four years, we have not made it past the first round of state playoffs. It would definitely be a large accomplishment if we made it.”

Junior Achiera Cuspert is most excited for the potential to make it to States with her team this year. 

“We have our first round on Friday, so hopefully we will make it far with the team we have,” Cuspert said.

Cuspert is excited to see the team succeed and, hopefully, make it to the State Championships. 

“I think we have a good team this year, and we all get along really well,” Cuspert said. “We have good chemistry, and I think we are going to make it far.”