“Stay hungry” says Andrew Gates, a senior 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle swimmer for Hempfield. The team trains to win its third Lancaster-Lebanon League title and fourth section title in a row. “Stay hungry” seems good inspiration for his teammates and him.
Individual goals for Hempfield’s team are qualifying as many swimmers as possible for “getting to states” and especially a relay team with eyes on a medal.
Key meets this year will be Section 1 rivals Manheim Township and Warwick. Outside the section Andrew looks forward to the League ,eat and facing Elizabethtown’s top-notch swimmers.
For Andrew’s part in Hempfield’s success, he has his thoughts on surpassing the school record of 51.4 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke.
In addition to contributing to Hempfield’s swim team, Andrew also swims for Reading YMCA, where he sees additional strong competition. In the summer he swims for Adamstown’s swim team.
Outside of swimming, Andrew’s favorite school subjects are math and science. And he has earned his Boy Scout’s Eagle Badge.
Looking ahead to college, he plans to study Engineering, maybe at his mother’s alma mater, Notre Dame (where she was a swim team member).
