Roy Ayala’s introduction to swimming came many years ago with his first lesson, and he stayed with it, turning his passion into the most accomplished career in West Scranton history.
After carving out a legacy with the Invaders, Ayala will continue his academic and athletic careers at Loyola University of Maryland, an NCAA Division I program.
“I never thought that I would go this deep into the sport,” said Ayala, who celebrated his 18th birthday Sunday, and will study pre-med and biology. “My parents signed me up for swim lessons, and my instructor thought I was a strong swimmer and told me I should join the high school team.
“When I stepped on campus at Loyola, it just felt right. I knew that was my place, my home, and of course, my pool. They have a very competitive team.”
A successful youth athlete and club swimmer, Ayala burst upon the Lackawanna League and District 2 scene in his freshman year. He earned the first of four All-Region selections after winning a silver medal in the 100-yard breaststroke and a sixth-place medal in the 100 butterfly at the District 2-4 Class 3A Subregional Swimming and Diving Championships.
As a sophomore, Ayala won the 200-yard individual medley at the subregional championships. He became West Scranton’s first District 2 boys champion. Ayala added a silver medal in the 100 breaststroke.
In his junior year, Ayala won a gold medal in the 100 breaststroke at the Les Richards Championships. He won silver in both the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke at the subregional championships.
This season, he put the finishing touches on his decorated four years, winning District 2 gold medals in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 IM at the subregional championships. He finished 11th in the 100 breaststroke at the PIAA Class 3A Championships.
Ayala etched his name in the history books, as well.
He will graduate as the school-record holder in seven of eight individual events: 200 free (1:50.53), 200 IM (1:57.00), 50 free (22.98), 100 fly (53.88), 100 free (50.74), 100 back (59.70), and the 100 breaststroke (56.97). He also set pool records in the 200 IM (2:00.15) at Tunkhannock, the 100 breaststroke (58.76) at Scranton High School, and a 1:00.66 at the West Scranton Intermediate pool.
“I can’t really explain everything,” Ayala said. “It was amazing to start, breaking records and going to state and national meets. It is such a great feeling. You step on the block, and everything goes silent, then bang, it’s surreal. I loved racing. My heart was really into swimming.”
After the PIAA Championships, Ayala extended his season as a member of the Pacers Aquatic team. He finished second in the 200 breaststroke and third in the 100 breaststroke at the Middle Atlantic Senior Championships.
A week later, Ayala finished sixth in the 200 breaststroke and seventh in the 100 breaststroke at the Speedo Sectional Championships at St. Mary’s City, Virginia.
He will take some time off before recharging and heading to Loyola, which finished third at the Patriot League Championships and second at the ECAC Championships this season.
“I have been stepping back and taking it all in for the first time,” Ayala said. “Then, I will focus on my next steps. I can’t wait.”