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Swimming for State

January 18, 2008

With every new season, TJ swimming strives to send more athletes to state.
by Marc Houghton

normal_hall_swimming2~0.jpg    In recent years, there has been plenty of coverage of the TJ swim team and their never ending quest to send more swimmers to the State meet.  All the hype about this one meet may seem overdone, but in reality it is the highest level of competition that high school swimmers will ever see.  The state meet is not only the most exciting event of the year in Colorado swimming, but it can help take some athletes to another level by providing an environment and situation to thrive in.

    It is a big deal for a swimmer or a relay to make the state qualifying times, because they are designed to only take about thirty swimmers or teams in every event.  Just making one of the times is a big accomplishment, and places a swimmer among the best in Colorado.  Only a small percentage of high school swimmers get to participate in the state meet in their four years, and those who do will experience something to remember.

    The big thing that sets the State meet apart from the rest is the atmosphere.  In the regular season meets there are a few students and some fans that come to fill in the pool area, but State is a whole different ballgame.  Swam at the Edora Pool and Ice Center in Fort Collins, the stands are filled with hundreds of cheering students and fans from schools all around the state.  In recent years, TJ has not been in the running to compete for state, but the top teams bring out all the stops to pump up their athletes.  The feeling of walking along the pool with music blaring, then stepping up on the blocks with the roar of the crowd in the background as you try to focus on the race you have trained all year to swim is something that will send chills up any athlete’s spine.

    The competition at the meet is perhaps the most important part of the experience.  Every swimmer wants his or her legacy to be left before their high school career is over, and the State meet is the only place to get it done.  Rival teams bring their best athletes to the pool, looking to earn the bragging rights until the next season. 

    TJ has had some great swimmers in their history, including olympic gold medalist George Dicarlo.  In recent years, the Spartans have been able to send a good number of swimmers to the meet.  TJ has not been able to bring a full team capable of competing to win the meet in a long time, but that is something only two or three schools do each year.  This season, the girls 200 freestyle relay has the best chance to make the state time.  They are coming closer with every meet, but they still need to drop about six seconds to meet the requirements.  The boys' team hopes to bring one or two relays to the meet themselves in the spring season.  And with a strong group of underclassmen, TJ looks hopeful to bring a lot of athletes to the meet in the next few years to come.  

    Competing in the Colorado state meet is something that every swimmer strives to reach, and for good reason.  It is a great way for any swimmer to earn their stripes and see a level of competition that some high school athletes never get to experience.  In the years to come, TJ will continue to try to send as many swimmers as possible to the meet, to let them have the kind of competition every athlete dreams of.

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Written by Marc Houghton · Filed Under Headlines, Sports, Swimming-Girls'