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Robby Purvis Is Bedford Athlete Of The Month

BEDFORD, N.Y. – Fox Lane High School swimmer Robby Purvis is The Bedford Daily Voice Athlete of the Month for January.

Fox Lane High School swimmer Robby Purvis is The Bedford Daily Voice Athlete of the Month for January.

Fox Lane High School swimmer Robby Purvis is The Bedford Daily Voice Athlete of the Month for January.

Photo Credit: Carolyn Johnson

Purvis helped lead the Foxes to a 6-0 start this season before the team dropped its last meet against rival Horace Greeley. Purvis was instrumental in the team’s success, particularly in the individual medley and butterfly events.

The sophomore has been on the team since eighth grade and always has had the necessary skills to flourish in the pool. One factor has caused him to emerge as a team leader this season.

“I really wasn't that confident last year,” Purvis said. “But my teammates drove me to be more confident, and it really just helped me pull together this year.”

Coach Carolyn Johnson played a part in bringing out that confidence by, literally and figuratively, throwing Purvis in the deep end and telling him to swim.

“She’s put me in breaststroke and freestyle and I've had to perform. So, this year, I've really come around,” Purvis said. “Every event, I had to just go no matter what.”

Purvis said he prefers the medley, butterfly and backstroke events but he has shown his skills in the other events, as well. He has grown to love the relays, in particular.

Johnson said she has faith she could put him in any event and he would do well.

“When I look at Robby, I see somebody who’s really just starting to mature into the sport of swimming,” Johnson said. “He’s down to Earth. He doesn't get caught up in the competitive aspect externally, but internally he is in control. He is focused. He just sets his mind to something and just goes after it with a vengeance.”

Purvis said his goals for this season are to place in the top three in the 100-yard backstroke event at this year’s sectional championships and to take a relay team to the state championships as the Foxes did last year.

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