Swimming: Delco Invitational breaks new ground

RADNOR >> It’s been 34 years since Tom Robinson grabbed the reins of the Radnor swimming program. But at his heart, Robinson remains imbued with the spirit of a track coach. And on the pool deck, one way that has manifested is in wondering why, unlike the two terrestrial endurance sports he’s coached, swimming lacked a single meet uniting Delaware County’s best athletes.

He rectified that, after many years of pondering, with this weekend’s first Delco Invitational at Radnor, bringing together nine schools for what Robinson hopes is the first of many such events.

“The idea was to have a meet like cross country and track has with a Delaware County championship,” Robinson said. “It’s something I’ve wanted to have for a long time. So yeah, it fills a void in that respect.”

Robinson’s considerations were both practical and jocular. The pragmatic side introduces swimmers to a trials-and-finals format akin to the PIAA Championships, with preliminary heats on Saturday and finals on Sunday. The atmosphere, though, injected the levity lacking in stodgy meets like Centrals and Districts where so much is on the line. Each event included a procession for the A finalists with introductory music (chosen by the top qualifier from Saturday) as well as prizes for event winners, most emblazoned with “Delco” and provided via a partnership with apparel company Blue Rooted.

The sight of, for instance, top qualifier in the 200-yard freestyle Abby Krissinger of Haverford walking to the blocks in gold parachute pants while MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” played, would raise more than a few eyebrows at a staid setting like the District 1 Championships.

Robinson was underwhelmed by the inaugural turnout. While invitations were offered to more than 20 programs, only five of the Central League’s nine-strong Delco contingent (Haverford, Ridley, Radnor, Upper Darby and Marple Newtown) joined Valley Forge Military Academy, Delco Christian and Cardinal O’Hara in sending representatives (Strath Haven and Springfield submitted divers only, contested midweek).

When you weigh the benefits and challenges of launching such a meet, it’s understandable why Robinson’s brainchild took so long to germinate. A day of racing (much less two) is one fewer day of workouts, particularly when yardage is being ramped up for the taper to February’s championship season. Weekends are rife with practices not just for high school teams but club squads, and avoiding calendar conflicts was a particular challenge.

But chances to line up for a trials-and-finals format, any high school coach will admit, are vanishingly rare. Save for the Catholic League’s de facto PCL/District 12 weekend double, most high school swimmers don’t get a chance to learn the rhythms of two consecutive swims until the meet where it matters most, states. Add in the light atmosphere to break the doldrums of a heavy training month like January — with its dark before morning practice/dark after evening practice tedium — and the chance to earn cross-league bragging rights, and you get a welcomed change of pace for many.

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