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Highlands Today

Streaks Look To Make Waves

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Sebring's Megan Wolfe, expected to be a state contender again this season, works on her backstroke during a recent practice.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: September 3, 2008

SEBRING - Plenty of screaming and cheering fans watched with amazement at Olympian Michael Phelps's performance as he broke record after record at the Beijing Olympics.

Sebring's Michael Bickman was one those inspired by what he saw.

"I was screaming really loud while watching every race," Bickman said. "I was on the edge of my seat. I never thought swimming could have that effect on me. It really inspired me."

Phelps' inspiration has trickled down to Sebring, where Bickman has temporarily traded the soccer ball for a cap and goggles in the junior's first year as a member of the Blue Streak swim team - a move that has boys coach Cheryl Parsons elated.

"Michael is a natural athlete, and he's picking up all the strokes really quickly," Parson said. "We're trying to bring him along slowly, but I think his rapid development is going to lead to some solid performances out of him this year."

Walking into his first swim practice, the Sebring junior wasn't quite aware what he'd signed up for - he knew only the freestyle stroke - but Bickman soon developed a routine and has gotten use to the long workouts that have tested muscles he didn't even know he had.

"The workouts are really long and it took me a while to get use to them," Bickman said. "I was really sore after the first few practices, but now I sing a song while doing the long training sessions and that has really helped me find my pace."

Bickman's personal expectations for the season are modest in scope.

"I just want to earn a top three in a meet this season," Bickman said. "I know I'm going to have butterflies in my stomach at the first few meets, but I think I have a knack for swimming and I really want to get better every day I'm in the pool."

Bickman is just one of the swimmers and divers on the Blue Streak squad this season, which has a balanced mixture of experienced swimmers and up-and-coming newbies.

"We have the numbers this year and the senior leadership," said Sebring girls coach Pat Caton. "We're focused as a team, and I know we're going to get good individual performances to help this team go the distance."

Megan Wolfe set the bar high in terms of expectations after going undefeated in all individual events through the Class 2A-District 7 finals on her way to a unanimous choice as the 2007 Highlands Today All-Heartland Girls Swimmer of the Year.

Wolfe, who holds six individual and three county records, shined in the 50-yard freestyle this season, posting a 24.66 at the Class 2A state swim championships, which was good enough for seventh place, but the Sebring senior says her best race is still in her.

"I've improved quite a bit over the summer," Wolfe said. "I'm injury-free and I will break 23 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle this year if I continue to work hard and stay dedicated."

Wolfe placed 16th in the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 27.59 at the Speedo Champions Series Southern Zone Sectional Championship at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex last weekend.

With that time, Wolfe qualified for the Short Course Junior National Championship, while will be held in December in Austin, Tex.

Wolfe was asked about where she ranks among the top swimmers in the state and the senior was quick to reply that she's on par with the best.

"There is a ton of talent out there from this graduating class," Wolfe said. "The problem is we're all bunched up as far as times and talent, and there's only so many medals to go around.

"I'm not taking anybody lightly and am going out there to win every race I enter."

Senior Katie Bullard returns as one of the anchors the girls swim team, as she is a key piece for 200-yard freestyle relay squad that qualified for the state finals last season. Bullard placed fifth in the 200-yard freestyle at districts (1:05.29) and was a member of the second place 200-yard medley relay that qualified fourth at regionals.

Michelle Bash has taken strong leadership role at practice with her instruction of the new swimmers and divers to get them acclimated to the training regimen. Her upbeat attitude has shown to be infectious at the Blue Streak pool

"I'm really hard on myself, but I try to stay positive and help everyone that wants help to get better," Bash said. "The meets are really serious, but swimming is still fun and should be enjoyed and not dreaded."

Bash competes in the 100-yard butterfly and is a standout diver for the Blue Streaks. The Sebring senior posted a time of 1:18.86 in the 100 fly at districts last season and will hope to drop precious seconds to improve her time this season.

"The time in the pool at practice is when you do the work to enjoy success at districts and beyond," Bash said. "I'm going to do everything I can to be there at the end."

Senior Paige Giller shined in the breaststroke and freestyle events last year and should continue her assent to the top of the ranks in the district. Giller finished with at time of 1:02.13 in the 100-yard freestyle and 1:17.91 in the 100-yard breaststroke at districts last season.

Blue Streak senior Bryan Kirsch enters the '08 swim season as the overall leader of the boys swim team and has slimmed down his goals to just one entering the season.

"I'm going to break one minute in the 100-yard breaststroke," Kirsch said.

Kirsch's time in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.61) at districts shows that he has a mountain to climb in order to reach his goal, but his determination doesn't seem to be wavering.

"I know it's a lofty goal, but I'm determined to do it," Kirsch said.

Kirsch had a fourth-place finish (1:05.66) at the regionals to qualify for the state finals last season.

The youth on the boy's team far outweighs that of their female counterparts. With only seven returning and eight newcomers, Parsons understands that she must develop her newbies in a short period of time.

"We have a youth movement on the boys team, but I'm really impressed on how good they've been training," Parsons said. "Right now, we're mixing up the strokes and seeing where we'll be placing kids at the onset of the season.

"The good thing about the season is you watch kids growing stronger and more confident and that's where you might move them to a different stroke based on their development."

Senior Matthew Vickers is slotted to be the distance swimmer for the Blue Streaks, as he excelled last year in the 500-yard freestyle event, while the versatility of senior Colton Statler has impressed Parsons and should help her fill some holes during the season.

Spencer Cayton and sophomore Brian Miller will anchor the backstroke and breaststroke events; while freshman Zebadiah Spiegel (who goes by the name Cody) has shown that his intensity in the water should pay dividends at season's end.

"Cody is a monster in the water," Parsons said. "He has a lot to live up to as far as being a Spiegel, but he's shown me that he's his own person and one to watch in the pool this season."

Spiegel, who will also take a spot on the dive team, doesn't worry about what his older brothers have done in the pool, only what he wants for himself.

"I want to exceed all the expectations that I and everyone else has for me," Spiegel said. "I have a real passion for the sport and I'm hoping to add my name to record books before I'm done here at Sebring."

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5827 or at choffman@highlandstoday.com.

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