RVHS boys 200 free relay wraps up season with trip to state
The River View High School boys 200 free relay wrapped up its season during the state swim meet at CT Brannon auditorium at Canton McKinley. The group included Jamal Watts, Coen Bible, Zach Phillips, and Cole Tatro. Colin Addy was the alternate. (Marianne Austin)
The River View High School boys 200 free relay wrapped up its season during the state swim meet at CT Brannon auditorium at Canton McKinley.
“Preliminaries takes top 24 in the state in Division II to make it,” said Coach Kristina King. “They all swam on Thursday and the top 16 get to swim on Friday, Feb. 25. We are seated top 13 at this point. The fact that we broke the record held by the state qualifying team last year and we broke it early in the season the boys started realizing and believing when I told them we could do it again and do it better. Our focus changed a little bit. There are times during the season when it truly weighs on you mentally and every one of them have experienced that mental pressure. It is so physically demanding along with the demands of school and family and life in general that sometimes if you are having a bad day it can make you question if it’s worth it. Now we finally get to reap the benefits.”
Senior Coen Bible has been a swimmer all four years of his high school career. “Going to state is an accomplishment that we all wanted,” he said. “We’ve all worked for it since our freshman year. Especially since last year when we realized we were able to do it.”
Junior Jamal Watts a second year swimmer said, “I started to think we might make it to state after we broke our first record. All those hard practices weren’t for nothing.”
Senior Zach Phillips a four year swimmer said, “This is my second year in a row to go to state I am super excited to go to state because we have worked hard for it. And this is the best group of guys in my opinion to get to go with.
Making state this year means so much to senior Cole Tatro. “Since my freshman year it’s been a goal of mine to make state and break a few records. I’ve been able to do all of that and more. I couldn’t ask for a better team to do it with. All of these guys are my best friends and my brothers. I’m super excited. I hope we do well but no matter how we do, I’m thankful I got to have this experience with my friends.”
Sophomore Colin Addy, an alternate, said, “I feel like even though I’m not swimming, going to state is a great experience for me.”
The group ended up placing 16th in the state in the 200 Free Relay.
“Having a sophomore and a junior able to come back and we have a couple others who are right there on the brink so it is not unrealistic to think we can do it again,” Coach King said. “These guys have worked very hard and have been true examples to the rest of the team of what it means to give their full commitment not just in the pool but in the weight room, in their schoolwork, they are good leaders for this team and this community.”
Category: High School, Sports
