Halfway through the season the Aqua Tribe is hosting its own meet today and Saturday and trying to live up to the performance of last year’s region-qualifying squad.
The newest members are finding their strengths and trying to keep up with team leaders. Senior Tommy Harms is experiencing this competitive world for the first time.
“I’m doing alright, but I plan on doing better,” Harms said. “Now I’m getting used to keeping up with the more experienced swimmers.”
Every team has strengths and weaknesses, and Coach Tim Sage thinks the two are the same thing for this year’s squad.
“Our weakness is that we’re pretty young and don’t have a lot of experience,” Sage said. “But it’s also our strength because they’re young and can move faster.”
As the fastest swimmer on the men’s team, senior Matt Mares has the fastest time on any leg of the men’ s relays. Mares is preparing for tomorrow’s swimming competition with confidence.
“It’s going to be a revolution in swimming,” Mares said. “I’m going to try my hardest and not back down for anyone. My plan is to come home with first place.”
Mares said he has gotten a lot faster from the beginning of the season.
As the season goes on the new additions to the team as a whole improve steadily.
“They’ve [the rookies] gotten better and faster,” sophomore Jesseca Sumpter said. “It’s a whole lot more fun at the meets.”
Hobbs Meet Results–Dec. 3-4
Maidens–eighth place overall; Indians–fourth overall; Individual results–men’s 200-meter freestyle–Matt Mares third-2:23.11; men’s 200-meter intermediate–Jonathan Whisenant fifth-2:57.89; women’s 50-meter freestyle–Judy Thiessen seventh-34.86; men’s 50-meter freestyle–Chance Pettyjohn fifth-30.61, Tommy Harms eighth-31.16; women’s 100-meter freestyle–Judy Thiessen fifth-1:18.24; men’s 100-meter freestyle–Michael Nagy 11th-1:14.40, Bryan Burleson 12th-1:15.11; women’s 400-meter freestyle–Jesseca Sumpter 10th-7:51.48; men’s 400-meter freestyle–Matt Mares sixth-5:20.91; men’s 200-meter freestyle relay–Whisenant, Nagy, Pettyjohn and Mares third–2:04.90; women’s 100-meter backstroke–Connie Friesen seventh-1:40.84; men’s 100-meter backstroke–Jonathan Whisenant third-1:19.83; women’s 100-meter breaststroke–Kourtney Kildow ninth-1:56.46; men’s 400-meter freestyle relay–Whisenant, Nagy, Burleson and Mares fourth-4:48.05