Leah Bauder: A Pope John Lion who never quits
SPARTA, N.J. — Swimming has always been one of the most successful sports at Pope John XXIII Regional High School (PJHS) and the tradition is being carried on through PJHS junior Leah Bauder.
A recent example of Bauder’s success is her performance in the February 2022 Sussex County Championships. She accumulated 32 points following four total wins in the 100 freestyle (56.18), 100 breaststroke (1:10.22), 200 medley relay (1:58.20) and 200 freestyle relay (1:47.74), contributing greatly to PJHS sweeping the event.
Bauder also swims on the Sussex County YMCA club team, constantly working to improve in a sport she loves. Her one message to her teammates every practice and every meet is to never give up.
Bauder started swimming at seven years old when her mom signed her up for lessons. After a couple of lessons, the instructor noticed that Bauder was a natural in the pool. Bauder tried multiple sports before deciding that swimming was the one she wanted to pursue. She launched her competitive swimming career by joining a local lake team.
“The coach said that I could join and, after doing very well, I began to learn how to swim at the lake in terms of strokes,” Bauder recalled. “The lake coach came to me and suggested that I should join a club team as the next step.”
Bauder joined a nationally-ranked club team but found that it was tearing away at the fun that she’d always experienced in swimming. After eight years of swimming with the team, she left.
“As much as I want to swim in college, I don’t want to do it at that level,” Bauder explained. “If I want to make nationals for high school, I’m going to do that because I want to do it, not because I’m being pushed too hard on a team that doesn’t give me enough attention.”
Bauder decided to join another club team through the Sussex County YMCA which she continues to thoroughly enjoy while also competing for PJHS, contributing to PJHS completing this year’s season undefeated.
“Bauder is definitely a strong contender for one of next year’s captains,” said PJHS senior Lauren Koppelmann. “Our team is blessed with so many strong individuals. With Bauder, juniors Abby Panzarella, Summer Guerini and Madison Griffin—the 2023 senior class—the team will be full of leadership. I think the girls really understand the strongest fundamental of Pope John swim is the large amount of love we have for each other. The girls will do an amazing job of keeping up the tradition of being a family through the highs and lows.”
Bauder continued, “One main thing I want to accomplish next year is getting one-on-one time with the girls on the team and connecting with them on another level, so that we can all have mutual respect for each other.”
Bauder remarked that the biggest challenge the girls team will face next year will be filling the roles of this year’s graduating seniors.
“Seniors Koppelmann and Zoe Rizzo both took the time to make sure we were all getting along and they were there for us during our most difficult meets after we had a rough day as a team.”
Bauder wants to emulate the leadership that Koppelmann shows in and out of the pool, creating a family atmosphere.
“This is my first year here at Pope John and everyone was super welcoming and sweet,” said PJHS sophomore Sera Lam. “They definitely keep the team spirit alive and help motivate the rest of us, which helps keep the streak alive.”
Bauder is excited for her final year at PJHS and is already practicing for next season.
“This is one of those sports you have to do because you love it,” said Bauder. “You can’t do it just because you want to win. Winning is not everything. It will never be everything.”
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