Coach Swaney grabs historic 500th win
Coach Swaney earned his 500th career victory in 2020.
January 13, 2020
The Bellwood Antis Lady Blue Devils won by a score of 101-12 in Friday nights match-up against ICC opponent Moshannon Valley.
Yes, the margin of victory was so large that it alone could warrant an entire story about how well the Lady Devils played, but that wasn’t the biggest take-away from the game.
Bellwood-Antis coach Jim Swaney earned his 500th career win in the absolute destruction of the Lady Damsels.
Coach Swaney has coached at Bellwood for 10 years, and will forever be remember by Bellwood’s players, students, and community members for his back-to-back state championships in 2018, and 19.
“I feel very blessed to have been able to coach so many talented and dedicated kids,” said Coach Swaney. “Without them none of this happens. It is a good time to look back and remember all the players we have had and how grateful I am to have been around them.”
Coach Swaney coached for 18 years at Tyrone, winning a little over 200 wins before making the switch to rival Bellwood.
When it comes to Fridays night game, the Lady Blue Devils were absolutely dominant as all five starters were in the double digits, led by Alli Campbell’s 35 points. Emilie Leidig, Sakeria Haralson combined for 31 points, and the rest is history.
The score at halftime was 65-1, and the Bellwood-Antis Blue Devils have been playing in a way that will leave no doubt on who the Best team in the ICC is.
It was special for Coach Swaney to hit No. 500 with this particular grup of girls, he said.
“This senior class is a once in a lifetime class to coach. They will always hold a very special place in my heart,” he said. “All 17 players on this year’s team are good players and students, they are all really good kids who I will remember forever.”
The next game for BA will be Tuesday, as they head to Claysburg Kimmel with Alli Campbell in need of only 5 points to become the school and Blair County scoring leader.
The current school and county leader is 2017 grad Karson Swogger, who currently plays for St. Francis. The record stands at 2,520.
