Saxony features nine swimmers in third year

When Dan Rau volunteered to launch and coach the Saxony Lutheran swim team after the school went without a program for two years, he learned students had little interest.

"I got the interest list from the athletic director" this past summer, Rau said. "There was only one name listed. So when I started the program I thought, 'Gee, I'm only going to have a handful of kids.'"

The interest list he received consisted of those incoming Saxony students who were given the question in a survey.

However, Rau did not get discouraged. Instead, he went out and recruited swimmers. And now just a few meets into his program's winter schedule, Rau believes he has a fairly large roster with nine athletes.

"There were a couple of girls who were really interested, and I talked to some of their parents," Rau said. "I was able to do some informational meetings that girls came to and interest sort of spread through the program."

Rau said his team is young, so all the swimmers will have to work especially hard throughout the season to earn state cuts. The Crusaders program consists of only one year-round swimmer. The remainder of the team consists of those who swam in summer leagues and some who have never competed.

Members who Rau said he thinks have promise include Taylor Coe and Tonya Scholl.

Scholl had a strong performance Thursday in a three-team meet against Notre Dame and St. Vincent, finishing third in the 100 backstroke (1:35.23).

Rau also is looking for a strong season from his daughter, Madison Rau, who is the lone year-round swimmer.

She is a backstroke swimmer who could also compete in the individual medley as the year progresses.

Rau likes the progress of sophomore Katie Winter, who he said is a tremendous athlete who's just learning to swim competitively.

"I think we're having a great year based upon the girls who we've got," Rau said. "We're a very young team. I've got some great kids who are working hard and some are learning as we go along, but they are learning fast. I told them in practice the other day that I wish I had videotaped their first practice in the water to show them how well they are doing after three weeks."