JERMYN, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Most kids love swimming, but you would be hard-pressed to find someone who loves it more than a Lackawanna County boy.
The 12-year-old from Jermyn has taken that desire and turned it into some eye-opening accomplishments.
12-year-old Ryder Bevan takes to the swimming block with such determination.
Every time he hits the water, he does so with purpose. It has been that way long before swimming in pools like the Olympic-sized one at the University of Scranton's Byron Rec Center.
"When I was around 8, my parents noticed I was a very strong swimmer," said Ryder.
"I would see him swimming in his grandmother's pool and recognize that the kid looks really good. Maybe we should get him in a pool and compete a little bit," explained Bailey Bevan, Ryder's mother.
Ryder was more than ready to make some waves.
"All I knew is that I really wanted to swim, like, competitively more," explained Ryder.
For nearly two years now, he has been a team member of the Lackawanna County-based USA Swim club called Blue Dolphin Aquatics.
Gymnast ‘flipping’ her way to success
Jen Biscotto is Ryder's swim coach.
"He continues to grow every day. We do some race pace swimming, and his times have gotten better and better," said Biscotto.
So much better that Ryder set out to prove something in March.
After achieving Junior Championship status, he competed at the Middle Atlantic Swimming Championships in York.
Ryder won five of six events in his age group and set three records.
"It was tough and I was pretty nervous before I got into those three because I was so close to a record and I was thinking about, like, if I thought about it too hard like I would lose focus, but I did it," said Ryder.
"When he's in on the big stage in races, he performs really well," explained Biscotto.
And he's proven he is more than up to the challenge.
"Very rewarding to just look back and see what I've done," said Ryder.
Coach Jen says Ryder's success is a result of more than just being a naturally gifted swimmer.
"So, he's constantly looking to improve, looking to get better. He does ask for what he can do better. He'll stay after practice and try to work on starts once in a while if he thinks he's not or something earlier and ask to have extra time for things he needs to work on," said Biscotto.
"Even when he's sick, even when he's tired, he comes to practice. He will not miss it. Doesn't matter the day, doesn't matter the time. It can be 5:30 a.m. in the morning, it can be 9:00 p.m. at night. He's here with a smile on," said Bailey Bevan, Ryder's mother.
Ryder practices every day but still finds time to volunteer at Valley Community Library in Peckville and the CEO Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank.
"I'm so proud of him. He's such a good kid. He has such a good heart. It really. I couldn't have asked for a better kid," shared Bailey Bevan.
A kid who's turned his passion for the pool into swimming success.
"It's kind of in my heart, like, I just love it in general," said Ryder.
Ryder is also an "A" student at Commonwealth Charter Academy.
When he's older, he plans on going to college where he hopes to continue swimming competitively.
Here's to you, Ryder!
If you have a kid you think should be featured on Here’s To You Kid!, send in a nomination online.
