Derry grad Zach Baum having another strong season for Saint Vincent swimming

Derry alum Zach Baum is having another fine season on the Saint Vincent men’s swimming team but said all that matters is making the NCAA championship.

A junior, Baum made a “B” cut of 48.69 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly. The time ranks him among the top Division III performers in the country.

Baum needs to go close to a second faster (47.19) to be invited to the March meet in Greensboro, N.C. He hopes to make it to the podium.

Baum made B cuts as the Presidents’ Athletic Conference champion in 2018 and ’19.

Bearcats coach Josh Gurekovich said Baum is focused after returning from break.

“He understands the areas he needs to improve and is working on them every day,” Gurekovich said.

The 6-foot-4 Baum set a school record in the 100 backstroke (50.26), as well as the 100 butterfly, in the Franklin & Marshall Invitational in November.

“I was extremely surprised to be swimming as fast,” he said.

Gurekovich said it was not rare.

“We backed off a little from heavy training to allow the athletes a chance to swim some fast times,” he said.

Baum, the 2017 WPIAL Class AA champion and ’16 and ’17 PIAA runner-up in the 100 butterfly, owns six individual school records. He has four in relays.

He holds the conference meet record (49 seconds) in the 100 butterfly.

Besides the 100 butterfly, he was conference champion in the 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley in 2018.

“(Gurekovich) opened some doors,” said Baum, who is studying communications.