Three local swimmers will begin competing tomorrow at the state swimming championships at Erie Community College in Buffalo.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Weedsport senior Justin Friesen will be competing at the state swimming meet tomorrow in Buffalo in the 100m freestyle competition.
Weedsport senior Justin Friesen will be competing at the state swimming meet tomorrow in Buffalo in the 100m freestyle competition.
The competition wraps up Saturday with the finals.
Auburn's Matt Valvo and Weedsport's Justin Friesen will be competing in states for the second time, but for Auburn freshman Pat O'Donovan, winning the 100-backstroke (54.72) at the Section III Tournament on February 11 was the highlight of his swimming career.
Valvo earned a spot at states two seasons ago, but didn't make it last season due to a shoulder injury.
Tomorrow he will compete in the 100 breaststroke, where his time has been hovering at just over a minute all season. His season best is 1:02.45 but his coach thinks he can still improve.
“If Matt swims faster than he did at sectionals, then he has a good chance to come back on Saturday,” Auburn coach Rich Hamberger said. “The big thing for him is to break under a minute. As for Pat, he should do pretty well also, as long as he repeats what he did at sectionals. I'd like to see him get to 53 seconds. If they get their heads into it and think they're going to swim fast, then they will. It's all mental”
While Valvo and O'Donovan have been working on their techniques and sprints in the pool, Friesen will be literally warming up this weekend.
The swimming pool heater has been broken in Weedsport High School for several weeks now but the senior swimmer has continued to practice for the 100 freestyle despite the temperature dropping to just over 70 degrees.
The pool has gotten slightly warmer with the help of the school's hot water tank, but coach Gary Earl said that Friesen hasn't been bothered by the chilly temperatures.
“Justin lives to swim and has come a long way. He's really finally getting the benefits of all his hard work,” Earl said. “Last year he qualified in the 200 free relay, but he put a lot of pressure on himself this year at sectionals; he had his mind made up that he was getting to states.”
Friesen's best time in the 100 freestyle this season is 49.86 seconds and Earl feels that if he can get under 48 seconds, then he has a good shot to move on to Saturday.
“We've been working on his start and turn for the last three weeks and there are days that he hits them perfect and days he doesn't, so if he does it this weekend, he's got a good chance,” Earl said.
“He was one of our team captains this year and has driven the team. He is always there and always driving everyone else, which makes him stand out.”
The top 16 finishers in each event return Saturday to compete for a state title.
Auburn's Matt Valvo and Weedsport's Justin Friesen will be competing in states for the second time, but for Auburn freshman Pat O'Donovan, winning the 100-backstroke (54.72) at the Section III Tournament on February 11 was the highlight of his swimming career.
Valvo earned a spot at states two seasons ago, but didn't make it last season due to a shoulder injury.
Tomorrow he will compete in the 100 breaststroke, where his time has been hovering at just over a minute all season. His season best is 1:02.45 but his coach thinks he can still improve.
“If Matt swims faster than he did at sectionals, then he has a good chance to come back on Saturday,” Auburn coach Rich Hamberger said. “The big thing for him is to break under a minute. As for Pat, he should do pretty well also, as long as he repeats what he did at sectionals. I'd like to see him get to 53 seconds. If they get their heads into it and think they're going to swim fast, then they will. It's all mental”
While Valvo and O'Donovan have been working on their techniques and sprints in the pool, Friesen will be literally warming up this weekend.
The swimming pool heater has been broken in Weedsport High School for several weeks now but the senior swimmer has continued to practice for the 100 freestyle despite the temperature dropping to just over 70 degrees.
The pool has gotten slightly warmer with the help of the school's hot water tank, but coach Gary Earl said that Friesen hasn't been bothered by the chilly temperatures.
“Justin lives to swim and has come a long way. He's really finally getting the benefits of all his hard work,” Earl said. “Last year he qualified in the 200 free relay, but he put a lot of pressure on himself this year at sectionals; he had his mind made up that he was getting to states.”
Friesen's best time in the 100 freestyle this season is 49.86 seconds and Earl feels that if he can get under 48 seconds, then he has a good shot to move on to Saturday.
“We've been working on his start and turn for the last three weeks and there are days that he hits them perfect and days he doesn't, so if he does it this weekend, he's got a good chance,” Earl said.
“He was one of our team captains this year and has driven the team. He is always there and always driving everyone else, which makes him stand out.”
The top 16 finishers in each event return Saturday to compete for a state title.
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