<![CDATA[The Bulldog Reporter]]> <![CDATA[The Bulldog Reporter]]> en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 23 May 2013 11:27:59 GMT 15 <![CDATA[Billy Dunne Breaks Seven Year School Swimming Record: The Junior's Domination of the Backstroke was Made Evident at the Mercer County Finals]]> By Aaron Feibush


A rare sight, Billy Dunne on land.

Billy Dunne’s dominance in the backstroke is summed up by senior Bullfish co-captain Greg Stolowski: “He never lost a backstroke race this entire season.” According to boys swimming coach, Ms. Gordon, Billy had three goals for the season, and he fulfilled one of them by breaking a seven year old school record in the 100 meter backstroke. He did so in a time of 56.56 seconds at the Mercer County Finals at Lawrence High School on February 4th. “We all knew he was going for it [the record],” said Greg. Coach Gordon said that she was timing each lap Billy swam and that by about the third lap she “pretty much knew he had it.” “I knew right when I touched the wall [that I had the record],” said Billy. “It felt good. It was the best time I’ve ever had.” “He shaved his head before the meet and wore a Fastskin, a wetsuit which is made so that water flows off of it,” said Ms. Gordon. “He wore a cap, and his schedule was tapered in the weeks before the meet.” Coach Gordon explained that Billy usually swims 7,000 to 8,000 yards a day, but in the weeks before the race he swam about 3500 a day, while putting more practice time into starts, turns and strokes. “Essentially the whole team was there,” said Billy, in regard to his teammates supporting him at the race. “Everyone was cheering for him,” said Greg. “We all knew the time he needed to get, and when he got it, he went nuts.” Coach Gordon said that Billy’s other goals included “hitting the national cut time for his Y team and getting the state cut time of 56.98 [seconds],” which he did with his time of 56.56 seconds. In addition to the school team, Billy swims for the Hamilton Aquatic Club, a competitive year round team that practices at Rider University. When the school’s swim season and the Club season overlap, Billy goes to three school practices a week and five Club practices. Although Hopewell has been eliminated from team states, Billy will go to individual states on March 4th at the Gloucester Institute of Technology in South Jersey. He said he hopes to lower his time even more and finish in the top ten. Coach Gordon said that even though he is the best in the county for the 100 meter backstroke, he is still only a junior, so finishing first in the state will be difficult. “Hopefully he’ll continue to work hard and continue to improve,” said Coach Gordon. Billy said his goal for next year is to get his backstroke time in the 53 to 54 second range, and to push for the 100 meter freestyle school record. Billy hopes to pursue swimming in college and says he’s talked to a few Division I schools. “He should pursue swimming in college,” said Greg. “He’s a beast.” ]]> Thu, 02 Mar 2006 21:01:00 GMT