The Winder-Barrow swim team opened its season Saturday at North Forsyth’s Fourth Annual High School Invitational and exceeded the expectations of its coach, Jennifer Blevins.
The boys’ team finished sixth out of 13 squads.
Both Quinn McDaniels and Mitchell Buttler finished first and second respectively in the 100 backstroke and swam state-qualifying times (59.68 seconds and 59.73 seconds). This will be Buttler’s third straight trip to the state meet in the backstroke.
The most surprising race was the state-qualifying 200 freestyle relay team of McDaniels, Alex Hentenaar, Jake Hester and Buttler.
“I knew we had three fast swimmers in Quinn, Alex and Mitchell,” Blevins said. “We have been looking for the ‘fourth man’ for both the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay and have not been sure who we should use.”
With Jared Glenn out, Blevins selected Hester for the 200 free relay and the team finished fourth in that event, swimming a state qualifying time of 1:40.62.
“I knew he had the talent to do well, if he wanted to, and had been practicing hard each day,” Blevins said. “He was the best choice to swim as ‘fourth man.'"
Blevins said the 200 free relay team rose to the occasion.
“I truly was not expecting the time because we had just thrown poor Jake into the race and were hoping for a good time to work from,” Belvins said. “I quickly learned that I can never underestimate what these swimmers can do.”
Winder-Barrow will now focus on the other two relays (200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay). Blevins said the goal is to qualify in both relays and work to Buttler, McDaniels and Hentenaar qualified into more individual events.
In Saturday’s meet, Hentenaar swam “an amazing” 500 freestyle, Blevins said, with a time of 5:21.59 (third place). He needs a 5:20.00 to qualify for state.
“He is going to swim under that 5:20 next weekend at Flowery Branch,” Blevins said. Hentenaar’s 5:21.59 was much faster than his school record of 5:49.38, which he set last year. His brother, Ian Hentenaar (eighth grade) also broke school records in the 100 freestyle (52.45 seconds) and the 200 individual medley (2:16.76). Ian Hentenaar’s times were fast enough to place third in the meet, yet he cannot place or score since he’s an eighth grader.
Blevins said the rest of the team swam great meets Saturday, pointing to Leo Diaz in the 50 free (30.54 seconds) and 100 free (1:11.30), Nelson Lofton in the 50 free (32.99 seconds) and 100 free (1:16.98), Paul King in the 200 individual medley (2:56.42) and 100 free (1:07.36), Forest Nelson in the 50 free (40.45 seconds) and 100 free (1:22.93), Ryan Hendrickson in the 50 free (33.72 seconds) and 100 free (1:26.49), and Dakotah Kay in the 500 free (6:42.26) and 100 breast (1:27.52).
On the girls’ side, Winder-Barrow had just three swimmers at the meet. The team was missing senior Clara Moody, who was at Darton College on a swimming visit, while juniors Anna Dean and Cailtin Connell have not yet returned from cross country.
Returning swimmer, Kristina Brown swam personal bests of 36.76 seconds in the 50 freestytle and 1:30.14 in the 100 freestyle. Newcomers Ashley Cook and Katie Ginsberg “both swam great races in the 50 and 100 Free and have personal bests in each race,” Blevins said.
Blevins said the swimmers had to acclimate themselves to starting blocks in this meet.
“The YMCA where we practice does not have starting blocks installed so we don’t get any start practice off of the blocks,” Blevins explained. “The experienced swimmers also had about three attempts to get used to the blocks before each raced. It was a crazy way to get used to the blocks, but it worked in the end and that is all that counts. I cannot be more proud of this team and how each competed in the meet. Each swimmer works hard in practice and deserves to swim well in meets, I am just glad that the hard work was obvious. I am looking forward to an awesome season.”
