FR returns strong squad

The Indians had a relay stand on the district podium for the first time in school history a season ago.

With three of their members returning, and perhaps the best overall squad the Tribe has seen in a while, hopes are high for another medal, and perhaps even more.

“I have probably one of the strongest teams I’ve had since I’ve been coaching,” said Fort Recovery High School swim coach Mindy Bubp.

The Indians open their season today at the Celina Sprints Invitational at Jay County. “I have my returning seniors and a junior that are all-district swimmers. I have a group of freshmen that are year-round swimmers.

“This year I think we have a really good chance to be competitive in a lot of swim meets.”

Alexis Bubp, Sophie Timmerman, Cassy Martin and Faith Hull teamed to place eighth in the 400-yard freestyle relay during the Division II Northwest District meet a year ago. Hull graduated, but the other three are back. Bubp and Timmerman are seniors while Martin is a junior.

The last spot in the relay is up for grabs.

Martin and Timmerman both set school records during the district meet last year. Martin, who was ninth in the 100 freestyle and 10th in the 50 freestyle, had set new marks of 55.23 and 25.31 seconds respectively.

There’s potential for her to be even stronger this year.

“Cassy is swimming phenomenally in practice,” Mindy Bubp said. “I expect her to be tremendous in freestyle.”

Timmerman broke her own school record last season in the 100 breaststroke, and it’ll be her event yet again this year as well as the distance freestyle.

Alexis Bubp’s specialties are butterfly and the 200 individual medley.

Together, they anchor a team that is 11 deep.

“As far as the season, like I said with us being the strongest girls team you’ll see us doing well at the end of the season in districts,” Mindy Bubp said. “Hopefully this will be a chance for us to make a state run and get a first team ever to get to state.”

Carley Stone, who set the school record in the 100 backstroke as a freshman but was away from the pool for the last two years, returns as a senior on a part-time basis. Basketball will be her main focus, and she’ll swim when the sports’ schedules don’t conflict.

Rachel Acheson is the lone sophomore, and Bubp said she’ll fill spots in the relay races as well as compete in the 100 and 200 freestyle events.

Freshmen Kyra Clark and Ava Bubp will be moved around quite a bit to help fill roles as well. Shelby Stammen, another one of the six-member freshman class, is a breaststroker and distance swimmer. Paige Fortkamp, Autumn Burk and Katie McIntosh round out the group.

Bubp said having the numbers she has will be a blessing.

“Just gives me so much flexibility as far as being able to let some of the seniors swim the events they really excel in,” she said. “Let some of the freshmen take some of the (other) events and score points for us.

“The flexibility I’m going to have this year is great.”

For the boys, however, the cupboard is almost bare. Junior Nolan Thobe and Josh Gonzalez are the only two swimmers.

“Unfortunately we just don’t have the numbers this year,” Bubp said.

Thobe held down the breaststroke, but is likely to move to the freestyle sprints. Gonzalez is a backstroker and will also swim the 100 freestyle.

“They’re going to focus on individual events and we’ll look to see if we can get them to perform, to do well enough to get to district,” Bubp said.