4 swimmers look to compete at UIL state meet

Alyssa Clark, Social Media Director|February 25, 2021

At+the+Jan.+13+meet%2C+in+the+first+lap+of+his+200-yard+individual+medley%2C+senior+Justice+Hunt+dives+in+ahead+of+the+other+swimmers.+Hunt+also+swam+the+200-yard+medley+relay%2C+100-yard+freestyle%2C+and+the+200-yard+freestyle+relay+events.+He+will+be+competing+at+state+in+the+200-yard+freestyle+and+100-yard+freestyle.

Caroline Wilburn

At the Jan. 13 meet, in the first lap of his 200-yard individual medley, senior Justice Hunt dives in ahead of the other swimmers. Hunt also swam the 200-yard medley relay, 100-yard freestyle, and the 200-yard freestyle relay events. He will be competing at state in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle.

After qualifying at the regional competition, four varsity boys look forward to the UIL State meet on Feb. 26-27 in San Antonio.

As they finish their 50-yard freestyle event, juniors Lane White and Samuel Taylor out-swim their Rock Hill competition. The swim team typically starts their practice at 7 a.m. every morning and ends their practice at 9:30 a.m., giving swimmers the opportunity to opt into going home to change before their next class. This photo was taken at their Jan. 13 meet. (Caroline Wilburn)

The group of qualifiers consists of senior Justice Hunt, senior Mithuun Ramesh, junior Lane White and junior Samuel Taylor. All four swimmers attended the state meet last year, but with COVID-19 restrictions, coaches said it’s more difficult than ever to make it to state.

“This year is very limited,” head swim coach Trey Sullivan said. “It’s been a really hard year because usually, at district, the top six go to region, but this year, only the top four go to region. Our district is one of the fastest districts, so we really had a hard time getting out of district. The No. 1 in each event goes to state, and the eight fastest times in the state of Texas get called up.”

At the record-breaking Sept. 16 meet, senior Mithuun Ramesh, first swimmer on the left, prepares on the block for his 50-yard freestyle race and listens for the starting buzzer. Ramesh swam a 23.38 in the 50-yard freestyle race. Ramesh will swim the 200-yard freestyle relay with the group at state. (Christi Norris)

Each swimmer will be competing in the 200-yard freestyle relay at state. At regionals, Hunt placed second in the 100-yard freestyle, and White placed first in the 50-yard freestyle.

“We do a lot of technique,” White said. “We all have club practices, so that’s where we get our real endurance and strength workouts. Here, there’s more technique to fine-tune it.”

This year’s state meet will be held in San Antonio, rather than the usual location in Austin. The group said they do not like how COVID-19 has changed the event this year.

Walking the halls of Prosper High School, the four state-bound swimmers and two alternates are greeted by many students in a send-of. Shortly after, the swimmers make their way to their San Antonio-bound bus ride. “It’s been a really hard year because usually, at district, the top six go to region, but this year only the top four go to region. Our district is one of the fastest districts, so we really had a hard time getting out of district,” heads swim coach Trey Sullivan said. “The number one in each event goes to state, and the eight fastest times in the state of Texas get called up.” (Rusty Joe Gonzales)

 

“Normally, each event has 24 people, but this year it’s 16,” Hunt said. “They reduced the number to stop the spread of COVID-19. That was one big change.”

The swim and dive team logged what the coaches considered a “successful” season, especially for these four swimmers. They broke a school record for the fastest 200-yard freestyle relay at their Sept. 16 meet. Before coming to Prosper, Sullivan previously met the group at the state competition last year.

“When you get there, you’re on edge,” Sullivan said. “You’re excited, and the big thing is, I’m trying to get them as relaxed as possible because I know they’re going to perform. They’re a really talented group. They just need to be mentally ready to go.”

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