The Citizen
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Auburn's Kelsey Roe practices the breaststroke Wednesday afternoon at the Auburn YMCA-WEIU. The senior is competing in the event on Friday at the NYSPHSAA championships in Buffalo.
Auburn's Kelsey Roe practices the breaststroke Wednesday afternoon at the Auburn YMCA-WEIU. The senior is competing in the event on Friday at the NYSPHSAA championships in Buffalo.
Auburn swimmer Kelsey Roe thought she might be swimming at the state meet, just not in the 100 butterfly.
“I originally planned on trying to make it for the backstroke,” the senior said. “But I'm glad to have made it anyway.”
Roe will compete Friday at the NYSPHSAA swimming and diving championships at Erie Community College in Buffalo. She earned a spot at the state meet with a sixth-place finish at the Section III championships, swimming the 100 butterfly in 1:01.89.
“It is really exciting because I worked so hard for this all year long,” Roe said.
“It isn't the event I even planned on making it for, but with so many other girls trying to make it I am so glad I get to go. This is the first year I was trying to make it to states individually and I really didn't think I had a chance early in the season.”
Roe said it was her coach, Tom Clary, who initially thought she had a shot. And as the season moved along, her confidence began to grow.
“Right from the beginning of the season he said that it was really a possibility,” Roe said. “I didn't know where I stood. As the season progressed I started thinking maybe I could.”
Roe is in the pool all year, swimming for the YMCA Stingrays during the offseason. She spends a lot of her time in the pool, which may be why she's so calm before her first trip to states.
“It's really mental right now,” Roe said. “I'm not really nervous. I think I'm really prepared. My coach has done all he can to prepare me and it's just about getting in the pool and making it happen. I'm sure I will get nervous right before I get in the pool, but a little nervousness is probably good.”
Roe's preparation includes daily, two-hour practices which now focus on the 100 butterfly. And while all her focus now is on one event, she nearly qualified in the backstroke.
“I was less than a second away from qualifying,” Roe said.
Now that Roe has qualified for states, her next goal is setting the school record, which would require her to shave eight-tenths of a second off her time.
Her other goal is to finish in the top 24, which would qualify her for the finals.
Roe knows she must go into Friday's meet with realistic expectations, but she also knows the importance of this competition.
She knows it's her last chance to shine with the Maroons' suit on.
“All year I focused on all strokes,” Roe said. “Since sectionals I have just been working on my butterfly which helps a lot. I think I am really ready to get in there and reach all of my goals.”
“I originally planned on trying to make it for the backstroke,” the senior said. “But I'm glad to have made it anyway.”
Roe will compete Friday at the NYSPHSAA swimming and diving championships at Erie Community College in Buffalo. She earned a spot at the state meet with a sixth-place finish at the Section III championships, swimming the 100 butterfly in 1:01.89.
“It is really exciting because I worked so hard for this all year long,” Roe said.
“It isn't the event I even planned on making it for, but with so many other girls trying to make it I am so glad I get to go. This is the first year I was trying to make it to states individually and I really didn't think I had a chance early in the season.”
Roe said it was her coach, Tom Clary, who initially thought she had a shot. And as the season moved along, her confidence began to grow.
“Right from the beginning of the season he said that it was really a possibility,” Roe said. “I didn't know where I stood. As the season progressed I started thinking maybe I could.”
Roe is in the pool all year, swimming for the YMCA Stingrays during the offseason. She spends a lot of her time in the pool, which may be why she's so calm before her first trip to states.
“It's really mental right now,” Roe said. “I'm not really nervous. I think I'm really prepared. My coach has done all he can to prepare me and it's just about getting in the pool and making it happen. I'm sure I will get nervous right before I get in the pool, but a little nervousness is probably good.”
Roe's preparation includes daily, two-hour practices which now focus on the 100 butterfly. And while all her focus now is on one event, she nearly qualified in the backstroke.
“I was less than a second away from qualifying,” Roe said.
Now that Roe has qualified for states, her next goal is setting the school record, which would require her to shave eight-tenths of a second off her time.
Her other goal is to finish in the top 24, which would qualify her for the finals.
Roe knows she must go into Friday's meet with realistic expectations, but she also knows the importance of this competition.
She knows it's her last chance to shine with the Maroons' suit on.
“All year I focused on all strokes,” Roe said. “Since sectionals I have just been working on my butterfly which helps a lot. I think I am really ready to get in there and reach all of my goals.”
