HS SWIMMING: Stachyra grows into sprinter for Nanticoke

NANTICOKE — It started off innocently.

Noah Stachyra was at summer camp before his high school days, playing the popular game of tag with his friends. Almost caught, the now Nanticoke Area senior only had one option.

Jump in the adjacent pool, and hit the jets.

“It was only about 20 yards, and I was able to get away from them pretty quickly,” he laughed.

What it did was spur an interest.

“Later, someone told me that they didn’t know I was good at swimming and could swim that fast,” he said.

Months later, he joined the Nanticoke Area swim team as a freshman — and four years later, the rest is history.

The senior turned into a quality sprinter and backstroker in his years as a Trojan, and it shows in his final season, posting strong times in both the 50 free and 100 back and racking up first-place finishes.

“It’s crazy that that one small little moment led to where I am at today. I can’t imagine what my life would be without swim because it’s been a big part of it,” Stachyra said. “It’s a big commitment, but I love it. There’s just something about being in that water, it’s cathartic. And the people that I have met, the coaches and teammates, we’ve grown some strong bonds.”

Stachyra remembers what it was like as a freshman.

Walking onto the team, in a sport where he wasn’t sure he could even make an impact, there were some tense moments.

Remember, he wasn’t a competitive swimmer before walking on the team. It was one brief swim, playing tag at a summer camp, that led him to walking onto the pool deck. Words of encouragement from friends, telling him he had a future in the sport.

He remembers the nervous energy that first season. He even admits he was intimidated at moments.

“To the point where I would almost shake before I started a race. It was because I never really did anything that competitively before,” he said.

Turns out, despite the nervousness, he was pretty good.

His 50? Under 30 seconds for a first-time swimmer.

His 100 back? A 1:03 at the district meet as a sophomore.

“That was the point where I said to myself that I could be pretty good at what I am doing here,” Stachyra said.

The senior has seen a lot in his career.

Nanticoke Area doesn’t have a pool, so the teams travel to Wilkes-Barre Area for practices.

The team is also a combination; a shared agreement between Nanticoke and Hanover Area to combine as one, forming the “TroHawks.”

“Everyone on this team, we are like family because swimming is a really hard sport. You see a lot of people don’t really stick with it,” he said. “It’s been a good experience because I never really would have gotten to know them because they aren’t at my school.”

He’s continued to grow.

He’s posted a 26.40 in the 50 free, only two seconds behind Wyoming Seminary’s Jack Heisler for the fastest time in the area this season.

He’s also posted the third-best time in the area in the 100 back.

“This being my fourth year, I know what I am doing, and I know what to expect, which is a good advantage to have. I’ve done well with a lot of firsts, but I am always working to get that time lower where I was a few years ago,” Stachyra said. “With my backstroke, I want to get back to that 1:03, 1:05 area. My parents have been pushing and encouraging me to work hard to achieve that goal.”

But he’s also reflective on his career, growing from the scared freshman to the confident senior.

He’s proud of where he’s come, and of the amazing strides he’s made in just four years in the sport.

He’s appreciative of all the support from teammates and coaches over the years, encouraging him to stick with it and keep growing.

More so, Stachyra found something he never expected: A true passion for a sport.

“I would say that my first year was very draining. The commitment, work and effort put into it was tough. But over time, it was a lot of fun,” Stachyra said. “I see why people sometimes don’t stick with it because it’s a hard sport. It does take a lot. But the people that do, it’s just special. I’m so happy. I couldn’t imagine my years in high school without swim, to be honest.

“In other district meets before, you always see your friends leave, and it’s heartbreaking because you built relationships with these people. Now, I know that it’s my turn, and it’s tough. It’s something that I have to deal with. My freshman year, I kind of felt that it did drag on some. But now, I look back and wonder where has the time gone.”