Ranch swimmer Silvers signs with Penn State

LAKEWOOD RANCH — John Silvers didn’t get a sunny first impression of Penn State University.

“When I got there, it was raining. I was like, ‘I don’t know about this,’ ” he said. “But after the first night, I really enjoyed it. And when I got to know the team and everything, it was the atmosphere I wanted for the next four years.”

A senior swimmer at Lakewood Ranch, Silvers signed a national letter-of-intent with the Nittany Lions on Monday afternoon. He chose Penn State over Florida State after visiting both schools this fall.

“After the trip, I really just loved Penn State,” he said. “It’s so spirited, and it feels like a big, extended family up there. It’s a really good feeling. And the team atmosphere really was exciting.”

Silvers is familiar with Pennsylvania — he and his family moved to Florida from Reading, a city about an hour outside of Philadelphia, 10 years ago.

Now he’s heading back up north.

“It’s going to be an adjustment,” he said, “but after the first winter, it should be fine.”

Silvers carries a 4.3 grade-point average and qualified for the Class 2A state swimming and diving championships earlier this month in Orlando, where he placed eighth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.18) and fourth in the 500 freestyle (4:38.29).

Some events he may swim include the mile, the 200 butterfly and the 400 individual medley. He plans on majoring in pre-med at Penn State and hopes to become a plastic surgeon.

Silvers swims club with the Sarasota Sharks and will train with them throughout the summer before heading to State College in the fall.

“I just can relax and focus on school and training, and not have to worry about what’s going to happen next year,” Silvers said about making his college decision.