Tribe to focus on individuals

The Indians may lack numbers, but they aren’t short on experience.
Fort Recovery High School’s boys and girls swim teams have 14 members combined, so team goals are almost out of the equation.
“With those kind of numbers, we’ll struggle as a team,” said FRHS coach Mindy Bubp, whose team opens its season at 6 p.m. tonight at Van Wert. “We will struggle point wise because I don’t have the numbers.”
So Bubp and the Indians will focus more on individual goals.
“If I had more kids I would move swimmers around, but with a smaller team we will concentrate more on things they do best.”
Two-time district qualifier Cori Stone leads a 10-member girls team that is poised to have multiple swimmers advance past sectional. Stone finished second and fourth respectively in the 200-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly at the 2014 Ayersville sectional.
She went on to place 12th in the 100 butterfly at the Bowling Green district in 1 minute, 4.99 seconds. She was also 19th at district in the 200 freestyle.
“We’re going to expect her to do well and build on her performance from last year,” Bubp said.
Stone’s younger sister Carley, who will be splitting time between the pool and basketball court, will compete in the backstroke and short freestyle for the Indians. Although the hardwood will be her focus, Bubp is confident the freshman will still be able to contribute the few times she is able to compete this season.
Olivia Acheson is the lone senior for the Tribe girls, and she is coming off a season in which she placed 16th in both the 100 and 200 freestyle. Freshman Sophie Timmerman competed in the age-group state meet last season, and Bubp said she’s expecting the youngster to do well in the breaststroke for the Tribe.
Payton Thobe, Trisha Thien and Rachel Kaup, all juniors, return with sectional experience for the Indians. Junior Hallory Leuthold, sophomore Faith Hull and freshman Alexis Bubp round out the Tribe’s girls squad.
“It’s a strong group,” coach Bubp said of her 10 girls. “I think we will have a very good, record-breaking year. This is probably the strongest team since we’ve been a varsity sport.”
In his final season, senior Mackinley Timmerman is eyeing a berth in district, something he missed by five-hundredths of a second as a junior. He placed ninth in the 100-yard breaststroke at the sectional with a time of 1:14.96.
Sophomore Dillon Ramirez is the only other male swimmer with sectional experience, having finished 11th and 16th respectively in the 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle. Senior Kruse Ranly and freshman Harrison Kaup round out the four-member team.
“Individually I’m hoping to see at least one of the boys make it to district,” Bubp said. “On the girls side, we have high expectations. They have a lot of potential and I think they can make it on to district.”