Over the past couple of seasons, Osceola’s swimming program has enjoyed resurgence and that upward trend continued on Friday when senior Noah Maniace signed an athletic scholarship to swim at West Virginia University Institute of Technology, a NAIA school located in Beckley, W.V.
“The opportunity to continue to swim on the collegiate level is really exciting,” Maniace said. “Some other schools had contacted me but West Virginia Tech was the first one to commit to me. The campus looked amazing and I just believe it is going to be the right place for me.”
Maniace becomes the first male swimmer from Osceola High School to earn an athletic grant in aid in the sport since 1993.
“He came in as a freshman and became part of a school record in his first season and will leave with his name on two school records,” OHS Coach Krsytle Bayliss said. “He has been such an important part of our program and great team leader. When he’s not in the water, he’s on the side of the pool cheering his teammates on. The other swimmers just gravitate towards him.”
At Osceola, he concentrated on the 50-meter freestyle and 100 breaststroke but also showed his versatility by winning the longest event in high school swimming, the 500 freestyle, at the Orange Belt Conference Championship. He participated on numerous relay teams.
He capped his high school career off by placing in the top eight in four events at districts: sixth in both the 50 free and 100 breaststroke, third swimming a leg on Osceola’s 400 free relay and fifth place on the 200 free relay. He advanced to two regional events, finishing 16th in the 50 free and swimming a leg on Osceola’s 10th place 400 free relay.
Maniace says he most likely will compete in the sprints and 100 breaststroke in college, but added he would do whatever was asked of him.
“Right now, those are my two best events but will see what happens. I do like the medley events and even the 500free could be a possibility. We will just wait and see what they have in store for me when I get there.”
Bayliss says Maniace is a good fit for WVU Tech.
“They have a real good program both athletically and academically and Noah is a both a really good athlete and a great student. He should contribute immediately.”
An honor student, Maniace says he will major in electrical engineering and hopes to eventually get a Master’s degree in the subject.
Although he becomes the first Osceola swimmer to earn an athletic college scholarship in 28 years, Bayliss says he won’t be the last. Anthony Ambrosi, who won the both the 50 and 100-free at the OBC Championship and later earned all-state honors with a sixth place finish at the FHSAA Class 4A Championships, is being recruited by several schools.
“Hopefully we’ll have something to report on Anthony soon,” Bayliss said. “They both had great seasons and meant so much to our program.”
