Just over a week away…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It’s a different feeling heading into this year’s state swimming championships. For one, it could be an even longer two days with the Class 5A and 6A competitions (not that I mind).
Also, there’s no Samantha Woodward to galvanize the weekend. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t swimmers worth watching for.
The biggest thing is going to be to see just how strong Jenks and Union are. In talking with Oklahoma City area coaches, they believe it’s a fight for third at this point with the Redskins and Trojans doing what they normally do.
I’m not going to count out Stillwater, either. Guess it’s just going to matter about how much depth the Pioneers have.
Spoke with Edmond coach Steve Riggs about last weekend’s Mid-State and Metro Conference championships. Sounds like while we don’t have any one great storyline this year, there are plenty of mini-stories to go around.
For starters, after the weather wreaked havoc on the swimming schedules, the boys and girls came through huge. Five conference records were set and some of them were extremely impressive.
Putnam North’s Parris Schoppa has come into her own as a senior and broke both the 50 and 100 free marks. Staying in Putnam, Putnam West’s Kaylee Steffen has only built off her surprising state win in the 100 backstroke. Only this year, she’s doing it in every event, setting the mark in the 100 fly and 200 individual medley.
Norman and Norman North are canceling each other out. Coach Kent Nicholson has done a remarkable job in building those two programs. How can you not be impressed by NN’s duo of Wilson Wei and Ian McKenzie? But Norman is no slouch, either, with foreign exchange transfer Bruno Lipiani and senior Jack Hardwick. The Normans, much like the Edmond squads, might have been the team to beat if they were one unit.
Of course, they’re not so while a team title is likely out of the picture for both, there’s nothing to prevent them from taking home some individual titles.
Edmond, as a whole, isn’t as strong as last year, but it’ll be fun to watch Jill Enge (Memorial) and Nikki Colton (North) one more time. Been extremely impressed with them the last two years.
And as always, state gives me a chance to be introduced to some new kids. Last year, it was NN’s Wei and Chickasha’s Isaac McKnight who made the biggest splash.
This year might be the year Deer Creek’s Logan Testi and Typ Whinnery break through. It’s amazing how the two have been qualifying at about the same times the entire season.
Not going to count the Moore schools, but Southmoore has definitely spread the wealth around to where not one solid team to watch. Westmoore’s Dakota Wheeler has been impressive and broke one of the longer-standing conference marks in the 100 fly.
If they have enough depth, McGuinness and girls and Heritage Hall boys could be the first-ever Class 5A champions. Definitely a lot of competition there, though.
Much more in-depth look at things next week. Conference meets give you a good idea of what to expect at state. Not necessarily what will happen but a better indicator that if you’re going to make some picks (like me), these results and times help justify things.
And who knows, maybe the Last Chance meet will provide some fireworks, too?
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