The Winder-Barrow High School swimmers continued to break records and establish personal bests during Saturday’s competition hosted by Habersham Central.
“I cannot be more proud of these swimmers, every time they compete,” said coach Jennifer Blevins.
“They are swimming just as asked — faster. All I ever ask is that each swimmer works hard and improves and that is what each one is doing. If time does not improve, then I notice technique improving.”
The meet began for WBHS on a positive note as the boys 200 medley relay of Mitchell Buttler, Quinn McDaniels, Alex Hentenaar and Jared Glenn won the race.
Next, McDaniels won the 200 freestyle; earning a state qualifying time, new school record and personal best by swimming a 1:55.42. State qualifying time for the 200 free is a 1:56, Blevins said.
Alex Hentenaar also swam the 200 free and earned a third-place finish and a personal best by swimming a 2:03.42. Both surpassed the school record set in 2009 by Cary Hughes of 2:05.55
Ian Hentenaar dominated the middle school 50 and 100 free by winning both events and swimming a 23.81 and 54.96, respectively.
Swimming personal bests in the 50 free were: Paul King, Forest Nelson, Ryan Hendrickson, Nelson Lofton, Katie Ginsberg, Caitlin Connell and Ashley Cook.
Alex Hentenaar swam a personal best in the 100 butterfly of 1:04.00.
Swimming personal bests in the 100 Freestyle were: Nelson, Lofton, Hendrickson, Kristina Brown, and Cook.
Buttler had already qualified for the 100 backstroke, but lowered his state entry time to a 59.16 by winning the 100 back on Saturday. That mark also represents a new school record.
McDaniels set another school record for the day when he finished 3rd in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:10.24.
Connell ended the Swim Doggs’ day in the water with a personal best in the 100 breaststroke (1:46.66).
“A couple swimmers had some bad turns or a late start, which hurt their time,” Blevins said. “However, those swimmers still had improved somehow. Perhaps the bad turn swimmers improved stroke technique or the late starter had great turns. The pool was not the best for improvements, but great for experience. The water was a little too warm, and, to the swimmers, it almost feels like swimming through jello. That is why I am even more excited about the faster times. I told them that if they can improve in a pool that they feel slow in, imagine how fast they will be the next time they swim in a cooler, more comfortable pool.”
