Published: July 20, 2008 12:22 am            

YOUTH SWIMMING: Hundreds of local swimmers compete in SISA champs

Through nearly 12 hours, 88 events and 425 young swimmers from all corners of the local area, the annual Southern Indiana Swim Association championships produce more than a fair share of winners.

Then again, to view the annual event as just a swim meet is probably missing the point.

Early on Saturday morning, eight swim teams — along with a large retinue of parents and fans — descended upon Jeffersonville Aquatic Center for the 2008 edition of ultimate summer showcase for competitive swimming, setting up tents, filling coolers and preparing for a day of fun and, hopefully, victory.

“It’s for the kids,” said meet director and Jeffersonville High School swimming coach Keith Gast. “Of course, a few people get upset and it gets really hot, but that’s what you do for the kids.”

Presiding over a meet of such magnitude is a task that requires communication and plenty of adult bodies. Gast said each of the eight competiting teams submitted a list of available workers, of which nearly 30 were needed at all times.

“We had a really lovely schedule, but when it falls apart in 15 minutes, you have to start begging people to work,” Gast joked. “No, it’s been running pretty smoothly. It’s been a long week, but it pulls itself together.”

By mid-afternoon, the printed results had taken up one part of a wall and had to be jumped to another, a tangible reminder of the meet’s sheer size. Most spectators poured over them for a few minutes before giving up.

But a great deal of the attention went to the day’s special guest — former Jeff High and Indiana University standout Ben Hesen, fresh off his performance at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb.

Hesen was advertised front and center on the event’s official program, as he spent the afternoon signing autographs and soaking up his new celebrity after the nationally-televised series of races in which he failed to qualify for the Olympic team, but managed to make his mark by breaking an American and U.S. Open record in a 50-meter backstroke time trial. The next day, he snapped that record with an even faster time in a 100 backstroke time trial, a 24.71. That was the second-fastest time in the world this year, and only .23 of a second away from a world record.

“I’m just trying to mop it up,” said Hesen, who competed in the SISA meet as a child. “If I go somewhere else, people will push past me to get to someone else. I just feel very fortunate, because not that many people get this chance.”

Hesen’s appearance drove home the true point of the meet, which was easy to lose in the sea of people, the commotion around each race and the sound of kids being kids.

“It’s really about planting a seed,” Hesen said. “One day, you’re a person at a summer league swim meet, which in the grand scheme is pretty small, and you don’t think about where it can lead.

“Anything is possible. When I was here, I never would have guessed where I’d end up. I just felt like I got lucky and then decided I should work hard at it. It was never very serious until I caught a break or two. But you never know where it might all lead.”

Hesen stayed around to hand out trophies to the day’s winners at the meet’s conclusion. Ironically, Gast pointed out that Hesen never won a race at SISA championships during his time there.

It all adds up to more proof that to think of SISA in terms of winning or losing is probably missing the point.



Top Teams

Here are the team scores from Saturday’s SISA championships at the Jeffersonville Aquatic Center:



1. Jeffersonville Aquatic Club — 2729

2. West Clark Seacats — 2236

3. Harrison County Swim Team — 1350

4. Floyd County Flying Fish — 1349.5

5. New Albany Swim Team — 623.5

6. Clarksville Dolphins — 533

7. South Harrison Swim Team — 251

8. Charlestown Sharks — 206



High point winners

6-and-under girls — Leah Vogt, JAC

6-and-under boys — Dillon Frieberger, FCFF

7-8 girls — Rachel Walker, JAC

7-8 boys — Aristotle Zarris, WSC

9-10 girls — Reagan Thorn, NA

9-10 boys — Cameron Simcoe, JAC

11-12 girls — Meg Taylor/Alexis Lete, FCFF

11-12 boys — Evan Lopez/James Martin, JAC

13-14 girls — Hannah Martin, JAC

13-14 boys — T Martin, JAC

15-18 girls — Katelyn Cato, FCFF

15-18 boys — Zach Blankenbeker, JAC

        

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