Name: Mary Zimmerman
High school: Schuylkill Haven Area High School
Grade: Sophomore
Sport: Girls’ swimming
Accomplishments: Zimmerman captured four gold medals at Saturday’s Schuylkill League Swimming Championships, winning the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle and swimming the anchor legs on the Hurricanes’ winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams. In two seasons, Zimmerman has seven Schuylkill League gold medals. Out of the pool, Zimmerman basically single-handedly organized a Benefit Bingo for Schuylkill Haven physical education teacher/volleyball coach Nanette Addvensky held Jan. 31 that filled the First UCC Church banquet hall and raised more than $6,000 to help pay her medical expenses.
Age: 15
Hometown: South Manheim Twp.
Family: Bob, father; Lisa, mother; Nadia, sister
Athletes I admire: Joann Butkus, former Tamaqua High and current Susquehanna University swimmer; Katie Ledecky and Missy Franklin, Olympic swimmers
Favorite sports teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies
What age did you start swimming competitively: 7
Club team: Schuylkill YMCA
What impressed you most about winning four gold medals at leagues?: “I put in so much hard work during the season, and it’s nice to see an outcome come out of that hard work. From the wonderful coaching I’ve gotten, I can see improvements from the beginning of the season to now, so it felt good that I can go out there and win four gold medals.”
What do you like about swimming distance events?: “In practice, I like to hold paces. I like events with a lot of endurance, and it’s more satisfying to do something longer and hold it than to do something short like the 100 or 50.”
Talk about the Benefit Bingo for Mrs. A: “It was a lot of stress to get it organized, but now that it’s over I can focus more on swimming. It was great to see the awe-struck look on Mrs. A’s face and the smiles from the rest of the people, knowing that we can give her something like that in this time of need.”
Individual goals for this postseason: “I would like to be seeded well so I can make it to states. I’d like to swim a 5:20 or under in the 500, get under two minutes in the 200 and try to take both of our relays to states.”
Post-graduation plans: Attend college and study something in medical field or law.
Past winners
• Dec. 16 — Christian Gosch, Blue Mountain, wrestling
• Dec. 23 — Emily Mealey, Minersville, girls’ basketball
• Dec. 30 — Matthew Miller, Upper Dauphin, boys’ basketball
• Jan. 6 — Michael Logothetides, Pottsville, swimming
• Jan. 20 — Ian Cagle, Blue Mountain, wrestling
• Jan. 27 — Tyler Crum, Lehighton, boys’ basketball
• Feb. 3 — Tiff Lapotsky, North Schuylkill, girls’ basketball