Submitted Photo Pictured, from left, are Todd Conklin, JCC swimming coach; Art Nolan, grandfather; Steven Zentz Sr. father; Barb Nolan, grandmother; Steven Zentz; Zachary Zentz, Dunkirk sophomore and brother; Denise Zentz, mother; and Allie Saye, Dunkirk swimming coach.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — P-TECH students may spend each day away from their home district, but they can still participate in extracurricular activities such as sports.

For Steven Zentz of Dunkirk, the ability to swim for Dunkirk was never in doubt. In fact, it will continue throughout his college career at Jamestown Community College.

“We started emailing the (JCC) coach, talking about it since I will be continuing the program at JCC, so he was excited about it. He started looking at me and scouted me,” Zentz said.

To celebrate the event, P-TECH held a signing event for Steven, including members of Steven’s family, Jamestown CC swimming coach Todd Conklin, Dunkirk swimming coach Allie Saye, and members of the high school team.

“Steven is a hard worker, and he’s a great leader,” Saye said of Steven. “He’s the first guy back in the pool, and he’s willing to help other swimmers with their technique and just gets them excited for the competition.”

This past season, Steven was part of the Dunkirk team that broke records in the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. Steven is in the welding pathway at P-TECH and plans on joining a pipe fitter union after he earns his associate degree in welding technology.

WNY P-TECH is currently accepting incoming ninth-grade students for the 2021-22 school year. To learn more and see if it’s the right opportunity, eighth-grade students or their parents should contact William Smock, WNY P-TECH principal, at 672-3144 or email wsmock@e2ccb.org.