Mt. Pleasant swimmer Heather Gardner hopes for strong showing at states

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, March 11, 2018 | 5:18 PM

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Mt. Pleasant sophomore Heather Gardner has lofty goals heading into the PIAA Class AA girls swimming championships Friday and Saturday at Bucknell.

Gardner hopes to win and break the meet record in the 50-yard freestyle, in which she is seeded first (23.25 seconds). A District 10 swimmer set the record (22.91) in 2013.

Mt. Pleasant coach Sandra Felice said she believes Gardner can top the podium in the 100 breaststroke, too. Gardner (1 minute, 4.24 seconds) is seeded fourth in that event.

Gardner won gold medals in both races at the 2018 WPIAL championship.

“A lot of emotions went through my head when I found out I was the top seed in the 50,” Gardner said. “I am more excited than anything.

“There are always nerves going into a race, top seed or not. I feel a little pressure, but I know that I worked so hard all season to get where I am.”

Felice said Gardner is equipped for being a favorite.

“Heather has mental toughness, desire to win and the hard work behind her to make her goals a reality,” she said.

To Felice's knowledge, Mt. Pleasant never has had a PIAA swimming champion.

Gardner anchors the 200 freestyle relay team of sophomore Cally Hixson, senior Sarah Ivory and senior Lynn Gardner, her sister, (1:42.06) and the 400 freestyle relay team of Hixson, Lynn Gardner and junior Emily Bednar (3:44.13) that are seeded 20th and 16th, respectively.

Both relay teams came in fourth at WPIALs.

Felice expects the 200 freestyle relay team to drop more than the .37 seconds needed to break the school record. Heather Gardner said she would like to see both relay teams place in the top 10.

“I prepare for states by just visualizing all my races in my head,” she said. “I write down my goals, eat healthy and train hard.”

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.

Tags: Mt. Pleasant