H-S Athlete of the Week: Addie Ciez, Laurel Highlands
Submitted photo
Name: Addie Ciez
School: Laurel Highlands
Class: Junior
Sport: Swimming
Ciez’s week: The junior qualified for five WPIAL events in non-section meets against Derry and Ligonier Valley.
Ciez hit qualifying cuts in the 200-yard freestyle, 200 IM, 100 butterfly, 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. She finished the 200 IM in 2:21 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:14.92. Ciez also competes in the 200-medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay.
Despite winning her races, Ciez strives to hit her best times in every event, and if the victories come, she is happy, but would rather swim a good time.
“Of course, I want to win, but I strive to get my PR (personal record) in every race,” Ciez said. “There have been races that I didn’t win, but I hit my PR and was very happy about that.”
The WPIAL individual championships won’t be held until Feb. 27-28 at Joseph C. Trees Pool on the University of Pittsburgh campus, but Ciez is looking forward to getting back after qualifying for the state meet last season in the 200 freestyle in Class 2A.
“I trained over the summer and in the fall at the Uniontown YMCA,” Ciez said. “I definitely want to get back to states, and I hope to do even better this time.”
Ciez started swimming when she was five, but still admits to having butterflies before every meet.
From student to teacher: Ciez’s sister, Ella, swims at the Division I level for Cleveland State, and Addie still keeps in touch with Ella, but she is now mentoring younger swimmers.
“Ella has always pushed me and we grew up together swimming,” Addie Ciez said. “I always keep in touch with Ella, and we go over races and talk about swimming. She helped me coming up and now I am giving advice to girls on our team. I always try to help out. You make great relationships in swimming.”
Addie Ciez would like to follow in her sister’s footsteps and swim in college.
Other activities: Ciez played volleyball her freshman and sophomore years, but took a break this past season to focus on swimming. She plans to return to the volleyball team as a senior.
Ciez competes in the long and triple jump for the track & field team at Laurel Highlands. She wasn’t sure about taking up the sport, but was convinced by the coaching staff and has taken a shine to it.
“I have come to enjoy track & field, and it is a nice break from swimming,” Ciez said. “Track & field and swimming are sports that you don’t have to win but feel like you accomplished something in hitting a PR.”
Hitting the books: Swimming may hover at the top of Ciez’s list of priorities, none of it would be possible if she didn’t do well in her studies.
“Academics are a priority and I am leaning towards nursing in college,” Ciez said.