Seven years of swimming experience have provided Seneca High School freshman and breakout star Tiara White the tools she needs to break records.
White was the top girls swimmer in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle, the 100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke, and 200 individual medley this season, according to the girls’ swim team head coach Amy Gersbach.
“Tiara did not swim the 100 backstroke or 500 freestyle this year, the only events where she is not on the top of our list. We also keep track of the fastest 10 times in Seneca history for separate girls and boys,” Gersbach said.
White was the second-fastest in the 50 freestyle, 0.16 seconds behind record holder Caroline Rehberger; the fifth fastest in the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke; and the sixth fastest in the 100 butterfly. She was also seventh fastest in the 200 freestyle and ranked the ninth fastest in the 200 individual medley.
“It was surprising to break a lot of records,” said White, who has been swimming since she was 7 years old. “A lot of the records were fast. I was very excited and happy to break them.”
Her résumé doesn’t end there.
White was awarded the most valuable swimmer award from Seneca’s athletic department for notching the team high of 90.5 points throughout the season.
“This is the highest scored by a freshman since I took over the program in 2008–2009. Points scored records were not kept before that year,” Gersbach said.
White was also named to second team All Conference in the 50-freestyle for the Caribbean Division of the South Jersey Swim League, according to Gersbach.
Prior to White’s arrival, the team was coed. Recently, the teams split, offering athletes on both teams a chance to compete at a higher level.
“As a sprinter, Tiara absolutely benefited from the split teams,” Gersbach said. “Tiara finished the season with the fastest time on the girls’ team in the 50 and 100 free along with the 100 butterfly, but she would have been third or fourth on the coed team in those events.”
“I heard about the coed team but it was more exciting to do the girls’ team because it gives the girls more of a chance than the boys to win something,” White said. White swam in 48 races this season and follows an offseason workout.
While she’s not swimming as a Golden Eagle, she is part of The Waves at Medford Fitness.
“It’s fun. When I do the swim season at Seneca, I know I have an edge over the other girls,” White said. Additionally, she works out with former Philadelphia Eagle Tra Thomas at Thomas’ facility, 7 Deuce Sports in Medford.
“Tra has really helped me with my swimming a lot and my conditioning for swimming,” White said. “7 Deuce is a really good place to workout to become a better person in my sports.”
White has also traveled to Texas and Florida for summer camps to improve her stroke and stay in shape.
“I want to go to a Division I college like University of Texas or Florida State University,” White said.
“It made me a better swimmer than I was. They gave me a little more confidence.”
She enjoys the leadership athletics provide her with. She hopes to be a captain her sophomore year.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Tiara show more leadership in future years as she gains a little more experience in high school swimming,” Gersbach said.
White is determined to break all of Seneca’s swim records before her high school career is over.
“I think that in the next three years, the 50 and 100 freestyle records are definitely within her reach.
“I know that Tiara really has her sights set on these records and has set goals below those times,” Gersbach said.