Boys Swimming – Continued

With the 2010 season approaching its end, the Como Park Boy’s Swim Team currently holds 3^rd place in the standings. They have so far won four out of six meets, losing one meet to Central(2^nd place with 5 wins 1 loss) and one to Highland(3^rd place with 6 wins and 0 losses). In the Conference Meet on February 13, Como Park Swim Team got 3^rd place with Medals won by Justin Miller, Seyha Saumweber, Carl Kron, Evan Hanson, Shawn Halvorson, and Craig Knuth.

The swimmers are not done yet, since still upcoming are two of the more important events of the season. Coming up on the Swim Team’s schedule is the Sectional Meets on Thursday Feb 24- Saturday Feb 27. In order to make it onto the State Tournament on March 4-6, it is necessary to get into the top 3 in Sectionals, or beat the State Qualifying time of 23 seconds in the 50 meter Freestyle. This challenge is met by a team who so far, despite its lack of a diving team, and a shortage of swimmers, is still holding its own in the standings.

Boys Swimming

“I think it’s going to be an awesome season,” Eric Smith’s statement seems to encompass the outlook of Como Park’s 2009-10 boys swimming team. With the largest team he’s had, Coach Steve Conery, returning for his eighth year of coaching, shares his athletes’ optimism. The team has grown significantly in the past year. After losing three members to graduation, it gained six first time swimmers along with a transfer student from Harding. Though the team consists of several younger novice swimmers, they are, thus far, showing a lot of promise.

There are a number of returning veteran swimmers, including Justin Miller, returning for his 5^th year of swimming, 4^th year swimmer Seyha Saumweber, 3^rd year swimmer Shawn Halvorson; and returning for their 2^nd year of swimming are Eric Smith, Carl Krom, Evan Hanson, Jared Nelson, and Patrick Nguyen.

This years’ co-captains include Seyha Saumweber and Justin Miller, the two most senior members on the team. Both are also very decorated, having won several swim races at last year’s conference finals. Justin Miller (Junior), who came in 1^st for the Medley Relay with Seyha, 1^st in the 200 meter Individual Medley, and second place in the 100 meter Backstroke, is included in the overall positive attitude of his teammates, “We have a lot younger team this year, but a lot of talent.”

Seyha Saumweber seems to be looking at a promising season. After winning 2^nd place in the 50 meter, and 1^st in the 100 meter Butterfly in last year’s conference finals, there are expectations that he will make it on to the state finals this year. He’s “looking to beat the 50 meter Freestyle school record,” a record which has been held for over ten years. His teammates are supportive of and confident in him, “He WILL be going to state” says Carl Krom.

Though the team this year is younger than past years, there are no ninth grade swimmers. Several of the new swimmers are 8^th graders from Murray Jr. High. This group of newcomers is showing potential. Included among the new members to the team is Sam Lee, a tenth grader who transferred this year to Como from Harding Senior High. This is Lee’s second year swimming, and he may prove to be a valuable and capable member of the team.

Their next meet is coming up on Friday, December 18^th, at Humbolt against Johnson. With sectional and conference finals in February, and state finals beginning March 3^rd, the team has a full, season of preparation ahead of them, but the swimmers are improving daily. If you have any interest in joining the boys swim team, you can sign up anytime. Practices are from 2-4:45 Mondays-Fridays, and Saturday mornings. They are still looking for swimmers, so if you are at all interested just talk to co-captains Justin Miller or Seyha Saumweber, or visit the athletic office and ask about joining.