Vestavia residents prepare for national swim meet

A swim season of hard work and dedication has paid off for two Vestavia residents as they prepare for the junior national meet in March. 

Birmingham Swim League competitors Jason Hsu and Anna Moers will take their events to one of the top 25 meets in the country for swimmers 18 years and under. Athletes from all over the country will participate in the meet, but BSL coach Mike Davidson says his swimmers have a great shot at finals. 

“It’s fun because where we are now, we’ve got a lot progress that can be made,” Davidson said. “For me it’s fun because I know we can get there. We can become a lot better and place a lot higher. To me it’s exciting because there’s really only one way to go, and that’s up.”

Leading the way is BSL’s breakout swimmer, Moers, who will be swimming the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke. Davidson also hopes to get the 17-year-old Vestavia Hills High School student a qualifying time for her 200 backstroke as well. 

“Anna Moers has been just a breakout surprise,” Davidson said. “She has a senior national cut, but she got it too late. She’s just had one heck of a year.”

 She swims an impressive 23.82 50 freestyle versus the 24.39 national cut, and her 100 back sits at 56.31 against the 57.99 qualifying time. Davidson describes her as a strong swimmer who’s comfortable with her events. 

“This season I have dropped about four seconds in the 100 back, which is a pretty substantial amount,” Moers said. “It’s become one of my best events, and last season it was nowhere near one of my best events.” 

That’s probably why she’s most excited to compete in the 100 backstroke at the competition. 

“I feel very confident,” she said. “We’ve worked really hard this season and I just feel like all the hard work is going to pay off.”

Right there with her is fellow VHHS student Hsu. The 18-year-old swam at the Grand Prix Arena USA Swimming event in Minnesota previous to the national meet, which will be in Orlando March 17-21. Davidson said Hsu has a great shot of making the finals if they taper and rest him properly. 

 “He’s made this junior nationals meet in Orlando and he’s going off to college next year, so he’s working his tail off,” Davidson said. 

Hsu will be swimming the 200 and the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke. His 100 butterfly time sits at 51.99, which is only one-tenth of a second above the 51.89 qualifying time. He swims a 1:53.48 200 fly against the qualifying time of 1:54.89, and his 100 backstroke time of 53:48 is also tenths of a second from the 53.09 qualifying time. He will be swimming the 100 back and 100 fly as bonus events. 

He said he feels comfortable and confident in his list of events. He’ll be swimming the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle, along with the 100 butterfly. His 100 free time is at 46.80 against the 47.09 qualifying time, and his 200 sits at 1:39.29 versus the national qualifying time of 1:43.09. Just as impressive are his times for the 500 free and the 100 fly. He swims a 4:28.66 500 free whereas the qualifying time is 4:39.59, and his 100 fly time is 50.51 versus the 51.89 qualifying time.