The culmination of the Malvern Swimming and Diving Team’s 2013 season came in its victory over Germantown Academy to win the Inter-Ac championship on February 6 for the first time since 2008.  The dominating victory, with a score of 104 –74, underscored an undefeated season in which the team won by at least 15 points in every meet; earned a second place finish in the National Catholic Swimming and Diving Championships at Loyola University; and secured a spot in the 113th Annual Eastern Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships, held February 22-23 at La Salle University in Philadelphia.  

        Coach Jay Schiller is quick to spread the credit around.  “This year’s squad is a true team, top to bottom!”  In particular he credits his staff and captains:  Paul Hornsleth who has been “Malvern Swimming” for over 40 years; diving coaches Steve Curlee and Rob Lambert; and assistant swimming coaches Bruce Bronsdon, Eric Mundy and Father Chris Drennen.  Coach Schiller refers to team captain Paul Stockett ’13 as the “Energizer Bunny,” the leader who instills positive energy and enthusiasm, while co-captain MP Salinas ’13-- recently admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy-- is the “General,” who is a great tactician and “one of the most caring young men” Schiller has ever coached.      

     This team of athletes demonstrates its excellence in and out of the pool, for the team GPA is an outstanding 3.72, an achievement that will gain the team the prestigious “Silver Award” from the NISCA for a team maintaining a GPA of between 3.5 and 3.75. In addition, six members of the senior class have achieved “Academic All-American’ status for maintaining seven semesters of a 3.75 GPA along with their contributions to varsity swimming.  These students are: Stephen Ball, Matthew Cornell, Charles Leasure, Ryan Robinson, MP Salinas and Paul Stockett. 

     In assessing this year’s team with others he has coached, Schiller said, “This team ranks right up there with the best teams I have ever coached and certainly will be one of Malvern Prep’s best ever!”  More important than wins and losses for Schiller, however, is the spiritual dimension of the team:  “There is a true brotherhood that bonds our student-athletes and also our teachers and coaches.”