July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Patriots set to build off 12-3 season (11/28/2008)
JCHS boys swimming
By By RAY COONEY-
Considering how much they improved last season, it's hard to imagine what the Patriots could do this year.
In 2006-07, Jay County High School's boys swim team finished 3-8. Prior to last year coach Barry Weaver said he hoped his team could get back above the .500 mark
They did that, and much more, matching the school record for wins with a 12-3 record and a runner-up finish as hosts of the 10-team sectional. It was also just the fifth time in school history that the Patriots posted double-digit wins.
The team lost Tom McCord, a sectional runner-up in two events, to graduation, but the roster remains mostly in tact to make a run at the school record again next year.
"For the most part the guys who were with us last year are going to be pretty much where they were last year," said Weaver. "We've got some young kids who have come in as well, who have swam in the summers and with the middle school team. They're going to be good additions to the group."
Returning to lead the group is senior Sam Miller, who matched McCord with two second-place finishes at the 2008 sectional meet. He fell about two seconds short of a state berth in both events, and will look to erase that gap this time around.
Miller also keyed Jay County's runner-up finishes in both the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays. He was also a double champion in the Olympic Athletic Conference.
"Sam is quite an athlete. He has outstanding talent," said Weaver, noting that the senior will be working a lot on race strategy. "He has a lot of skills that are very evident as you watch him swim ...
"Sam's probably going to be in the top one or two in the sectional and have a real shot at going to state this year."
Aaron Hudson, a junior, came even closer than Miller to advancing to state last season. His second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke came by just nine tenths of a second.
He also finished seventh in the 100 butterfly.
The only other Patriot to swim in a championship event was Lance VanSkyock, who followed Hudson in fifth place in the breaststroke. He added a ninth-place finish in the 50 freestyle.
"Aaron is in that same position in the breaststroke (as Miller in his events)," said Weaver. "I know we'd like to get somebody under a minute in the breaststroke. We've never had anybody under 1:03. ... I think he's capable."
Jay County also picked up a host of points in diving last year with OAC champion Steven Kelly and runner-up Donny McCowan. McCowan has been lost to graduation, but Kelly returns for his senior season after finishing 2008 as the sectional runner-up
Others returning to the team after scoring points for the Patriots at the sectional meet are senior Chance Milligan and sophomore Neal Fennig.
"He came a long way in the backstroke," said Weaver. "He's really grown and matured quite a bit this year as far as strength goes. We're looking for some more good things."
Derik Lucas returns to the sprints with Milligan, and Nathan Cain and Jared Valentine will man the distance events. Weaver also said he looks to get points from freshmen Wiley Young and Caleb Hummel.
He said his biggest worry this year is that his team's expectations after such a successful campaign last year will have a negative influence.
"The thing that I worry about as the coach is the fact that we expect things to happen, and that doesn't always translate into getting the hard work done to make it happen," said Weaver. "It's the idea of every day we've got to come in here and go back and forth and our face is underwater and its boring and sometimes it gets to be a real drag ... but that's what swimming is about - making yourself hurt and working to try to improve."
He hopes that improvement can lead to another double-digit win season. And he hopes to add some tournament success as JCHS has never won the OAC title and has just one sectional championship (2002).
"We're really looking to be way up there in the number of wins," said Weaver. "I think we have the swimmers to do that. It would be awesome if we could go undefeated.
"We've not won conference ... and we'd love to get that accomplished this year."
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In 2006-07, Jay County High School's boys swim team finished 3-8. Prior to last year coach Barry Weaver said he hoped his team could get back above the .500 mark
They did that, and much more, matching the school record for wins with a 12-3 record and a runner-up finish as hosts of the 10-team sectional. It was also just the fifth time in school history that the Patriots posted double-digit wins.
The team lost Tom McCord, a sectional runner-up in two events, to graduation, but the roster remains mostly in tact to make a run at the school record again next year.
"For the most part the guys who were with us last year are going to be pretty much where they were last year," said Weaver. "We've got some young kids who have come in as well, who have swam in the summers and with the middle school team. They're going to be good additions to the group."
Returning to lead the group is senior Sam Miller, who matched McCord with two second-place finishes at the 2008 sectional meet. He fell about two seconds short of a state berth in both events, and will look to erase that gap this time around.
Miller also keyed Jay County's runner-up finishes in both the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays. He was also a double champion in the Olympic Athletic Conference.
"Sam is quite an athlete. He has outstanding talent," said Weaver, noting that the senior will be working a lot on race strategy. "He has a lot of skills that are very evident as you watch him swim ...
"Sam's probably going to be in the top one or two in the sectional and have a real shot at going to state this year."
Aaron Hudson, a junior, came even closer than Miller to advancing to state last season. His second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke came by just nine tenths of a second.
He also finished seventh in the 100 butterfly.
The only other Patriot to swim in a championship event was Lance VanSkyock, who followed Hudson in fifth place in the breaststroke. He added a ninth-place finish in the 50 freestyle.
"Aaron is in that same position in the breaststroke (as Miller in his events)," said Weaver. "I know we'd like to get somebody under a minute in the breaststroke. We've never had anybody under 1:03. ... I think he's capable."
Jay County also picked up a host of points in diving last year with OAC champion Steven Kelly and runner-up Donny McCowan. McCowan has been lost to graduation, but Kelly returns for his senior season after finishing 2008 as the sectional runner-up
Others returning to the team after scoring points for the Patriots at the sectional meet are senior Chance Milligan and sophomore Neal Fennig.
"He came a long way in the backstroke," said Weaver. "He's really grown and matured quite a bit this year as far as strength goes. We're looking for some more good things."
Derik Lucas returns to the sprints with Milligan, and Nathan Cain and Jared Valentine will man the distance events. Weaver also said he looks to get points from freshmen Wiley Young and Caleb Hummel.
He said his biggest worry this year is that his team's expectations after such a successful campaign last year will have a negative influence.
"The thing that I worry about as the coach is the fact that we expect things to happen, and that doesn't always translate into getting the hard work done to make it happen," said Weaver. "It's the idea of every day we've got to come in here and go back and forth and our face is underwater and its boring and sometimes it gets to be a real drag ... but that's what swimming is about - making yourself hurt and working to try to improve."
He hopes that improvement can lead to another double-digit win season. And he hopes to add some tournament success as JCHS has never won the OAC title and has just one sectional championship (2002).
"We're really looking to be way up there in the number of wins," said Weaver. "I think we have the swimmers to do that. It would be awesome if we could go undefeated.
"We've not won conference ... and we'd love to get that accomplished this year."
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