The Newtonian
Boys prepare for AVCTL swimmingFriday, February 13, 2009 By Feilisha Kutilike
Newton sets its sights high for AVCTL at home Saturday after placing third at the Salina South meet Feb. 4 and swimming 2 seconds under the 200-free relay Newton High school record. "It went really good (at Salina South)," senior Nick Swarts said. Junior Jonathan Wilks said most of the team focused on beating Great Bend at Salina South. "We’re going to be swimming hard," Swarts said. The swimmers taper for AVCTL a week before the meet. They swim low-intensity workouts so they can get rested for the meet. "We’ve won AVCTL every year (since my freshman year)," Wilks said. "AVCTL is kind of like an ending to the season for most of the kids." Besides state, Wilks said meets at Wichita Heights and Wichita Northwest were prime meets for the swim team. "We placed third at Heights," Wilks said. "There are usually about 20 teams at those meets." Coach Phil Schmidt said the boys swam against decent competition at Salina South. Schmidt moved around some swimmers in relays and different heats. "We went up against Great Bend," Schmidt said. "They have been swimming very well." Based upon several back-to-back wins in past seasons, expectations are high for AVCTL. "We’re going to try some different things," Schmidt said. "People are trying to make state. Changing things pushes the flexibility (of swimmers)." Schmidt said the meet’s location at home will impact the swimmers’ performances. He also said the swimmers are close to some record times on relays. "It is a bigger meet. We can look at past records, and we’ve won about 18 or so out of the last 20 years," Schmidt said. "We have a good track record, so I think we are in good standing." |