(This article was first published in the December print edition of the Hendersonian.)
Going into the winter sports season, the Henderson County High School Swimming team hopes to build on momentum from last season and continue improving its performance in the pool. Both the girls and boys teams will rely on experience to achieve the success they desire.
“They’re eager to get started. Last year we were building and we are still building. We’re already almost to the yardage in practice now that we were at the end of last year. So it’s really good to have all these returners,” said third-year head coach Melanie Mays.
The girls finished third overall at the Region One Championships last season. If they plan to take a step forward, they will have to do so without Melina Schulz, who came to the team last year as a foreign exchange student, and was an impressive distance swimmer. She was an integral piece of their relay teams. She also placed first in the 500 free at regionals and went on to compete in the same event at the state championships finals in Lexington.
Leading the way for the Lady Colonels figures to be seniors Sariah Coots and her twin sister, Lyana Coots, along with junior Avery Thomson. Sariah Coots qualified for the first round of the state championships last year as an individual in the 200 individual medley after finishing third at regionals with a personal best time of 2:43.28. She also set a personal best of 1:23.12 at regionals in the 100 breast for a fifth-place finish. Her sister, Lyana, finished fourth at regionals in the 100 back, posting a personal best of 1:14.47.
The twins along with Thomson and Schulz were members of the 400 freestyle relay team that qualified for state. The 200-medley relay team, which also qualified for state, consisted of the same team members, except with Piper Thompson as the fourth member instead of Schulz.
Although she did not qualify for state as an individual, the now junior Thomson put forth her best performances of the season at the region championships last season, recording three personal best times, including in the 50 free (28.60), the 100 free (1:04.24), and in her leg of the 400 free relay (1:04.23). Thomson is proud of the accomplishments that her team earned last year and hopes the girls can find the right mix of talent to continue its success, but is also ready to take the next step forward in her individual events as well.
“I’m hoping to go to state for individuals this year. I’d like to go on my own merits and hard work with individual events,” said Thomson. “This year we are interchanging people to see what fits.”
The boys team is coming off one of its most successful seasons in a long time after a runner-up finish at the region championships last year. Due to its success, the boys team sent three relay teams and two individuals to the first round of state. With renewed enthusiasm, the goal is to continue making progress and possibly make history this year.
Sophomore Boone Thompson had impressive showings at state, posting personal bests in both of his individual events. In the 100 breast, he finished with a time of 1:06.09 and in the 50 free he finished with a time of 23.72.
Junior Max Mays was the other individual swimmer at state, competing in the 100 back, after finishing in second place during regionals. Mays has the potential to have a big year as one of the leaders on his team. He posted three personal bests at regionals including in the 200 IM (2:22.65) and for his part in both the 400 free relay (56.22) and the 200 medley (28.04).
“My goal is to make it to the state finals where I can experience the faster competition,” said Mays. “We are a few seconds from breaking a record that has not been broken since Jordie Proffitt. If we don’t get it this year, we’re going to get it next year.”
Mays is speaking of breaking a Henderson record in the 200 freestyle relay. Jordie Proffitt, according to the Henderson County Hall of Fame website, is “unquestionably” the best swimmer in HCHS history. He was a five-time state champion and holds several school records, including as part of the aforementioned 200 freestyle relay team. According to coach Mays, the record time stands at approximately 1:36 and her team is around a time of 1:38 currently.
Sophomore Caden Boggess is another name to watch, as he earned the third-most points at regionals, behind Mays and Thompson. He, along with his younger brother Seth, have been swimming all their lives and each figures to play an important role for the team this year, especially as part of the relay teams. The older Boggess talked about what the keys to success are for his team.
“The environment is really good. We’re all connected. We’ve been swimming for a long time. I think we all just have good energy together. We all just hype each other up and try to do our best,” said Boggess.
Other notable swimmers to keep an eye on are seniors Jack Logan and Nate Raymer, as well as junior John Couch.
“I’d love to have a little bit bigger of a team to get some more interest. The more people you have in scoring positions, the better you do,” said Mays. “Last year, my goal was to place at regionals and we placed, so I just want to keep building the momentum.”
The boys team recently finished third at the Rick Cohn Invitational in Hopkinsville on Nov. 22. They and the girls will look to continue showing progress through the season to prepare for the Region One Championships in January.
