LaCroix tapped into motivation
BLOOMSBURG — When the PIAA abruptly canceled the Class 2A swim meet, putting an end to many’s seasons — even careers — Bloomsburg senior Bryant LaCroix had every right to be disappointed.
Chuck LaCroix, Bryant’s father and coach, said Bryant “was up in his room, face down for like an hour.”
The disappointment quickly turned into motivation.
“He got up, came downstairs and said ‘I’m going to work out. There’s nothing I can do about this,’” Chuck said. “Right there, he started lifting weights and working out for this year. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was really proud he made that decision.”
The determination paid off as the senior broke a District 4 record and brought home silver and bronze.
For his effort, Bryant is named the Press Enterprise’s boys swimming MVP.
There was no guarantee Bryant would have the opportunity to get into one last state swim meet. Before the Panthers’ first meet, Gov. Tom Wolf halted all recreational and scholastic sports through the holiday season.
“We had to take this year one swim meet at a time,” Bryant said. “We weren’t sure if meets would get canceled or if there would be an early end to the year again. We just had to take advantage of having [meets] as they came.”
The PIAA, in limiting the number of people at the state meet, allowed all district champions and a select few seeds to qualify. Bryant was a shoo-in, breaking the District 4 record in the 100 fly (51.36 seconds) and taking first in the 100 back (50.43).
Not having to swim more than those two events kept him fresh. He placed second in the 100 fly (50.54) and claimed third in the 100 back (50.50).
“I only had two individual events that day and was excited to know I wasn’t going to be exhausted,” Bryant said. “I didn’t hit the timing I wanted from the beginning of the year, wanting to finish each event in 49 seconds, but I’m not angry with myself either.”
Neither is his mentor.
“What he has learned is to just keep working at it, and give it his best,” Chuck said. “He got through to states and I couldn’t be more proud of him because he took advantage of the entire season, getting second and third at the state meet.
“We’re really proud of him.”
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