SV’s Blazer finally a front-runner
Owen Blazer might be one of the best swimmers in the WPIAL who has never won an individual title.
Each of the past two years he has finished second in the Class 3A 100-yard backstroke at the WPIAL finals at Pitt’s Trees Pool, first to North Allegheny’s Andrew Zhang in 2018 and, last year, to Upper St. Clair’s Jack Fitzpatrick. He also finished third in the 100 butterfly last year behind current North Carolina State swimmer Kimani Gregory of Penn Hills and North Allegheny’s Branko Kosanovich.
This year, though, might be the year the Seneca Valley senior finally breaks out and wins his first title. What events he will be competing in, though, is another story.
“I think the 100 back is a lock, but my coach and I have been throwing around the idea of possibly another event on the first day [of the WPIAL meet],” Blazer said. “The 200 freestyle and the 50 freestyle are also on the first day of the meet and I have an interest in swimming them, so it’s going to be one of those three … and I’ve been swimming well in the 50 free, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Moving to the 200 freestyle would mean Blazer swimming an event in which the top two finishers from last year, WPIAL record-setter Jack Wright of North Allegheny and runner-up Alex Deemer of Butler, have both graduated. The top returning finalist from last year’s championship heat is Hampton senior Drew Scheib, who finished third in 1:49. 44, more than 12 seconds behind Wright’s record 1:37.48.
Blazer swam a 21.08-second 50-yard opening leg in the 200 freestyle relay at the
WPIAL finals last year. That time would have placed him second in the actual 50 freestyle behind Hempfield alumnus Gavin Mayo, who won in 20.60.
“I went a 21.30 in the 50 free in a tri-meet with Upper St. Clair,” Blazer said. “My best time in the 200 free is a 1:41.30 and I did that right before Christmas when I was tapered and I was feeling pretty good.”
Though part of the reason for the change of events is a better opportunity to win, it also goes deeper. By switching out, Blazer could give other Raiders swimmers an opportunity to make an impact.
“We’ve got a lot of solid butterfliers, so I think I could move into a different role,” Blazer said. “We’re just seeing what the totalpoint differential is going to be to get us the most points at WPIALs so we can get a top 3.”
Blazer would also like to have a nice finish as he heads to Miami (Ohio) University. And a win in his signature event, the 100 backstroke, would certainly help.
“The last two years, I’ve always had that one competitive and extremely fast swimmer in front of me and, this year, I think I’m the front-runner,” Blazer said. “I don’t know how to deal with that yet, but as we get closer to WPIALs, I’m excited to see if I can get an individual title.”
It also helps that Blazer is taking his cues from Seneca Valley coach Brian Blackwell, who was a WPIAL champion in his own right. Blackwell won the 200 individual medley in 2001 while he was a student at Riverview.
“It will be pretty special,” Blazer said. “You get first that day, you are a champion for life, so it would definitely mean a lot to me.”