Cougars advance relays, five individuals to Saturday's final

Friday, February 15, 2013
North Putnam senior Jacob Hendershot emerges from the water during the 100-yard breaststroke at Thursday's sectional swim meet at Plainfield. Hendershot qualified in 10th place for Saturday's final. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

PLAINFIELD -- The North Putnam boys' swimming team is looking for a strong showing at Saturday's regional final, and qualified enough racers Thursday to do just that.

The Cougars will send all three relays and five individuals -- seniors Joe Lehr and Jacob Hendershot and juniors Dane Gray, Nick Kaufman and Trevor Troyer -- into Saturday's competition with a chance for more postseason success.

"We had a great night," NPHS coach Tony Gray said. "We've got nine or ten (races) coming back for finals. That's the most we've ever had."

Dane Gray qualified in two events, the 100 back and the 200 IM, and will swim in the championship final in both.

Troyer is set to compete in the 200 IM, and is also the first-alternate for the 100 free.

Kaufman is set to compete in both diving and the 50 free, Lehr will go in the 100 back, and Hendershot will go in the 100 breast.

Dane Gray broke his own school records in each of his races, and the 200 medley relay team set a new record as well.

Despite the success in the preliminaries, the Cougars have been building their training not for Thursday, but for Saturday, in hopes of peaking at just the right time, coach Gray said.

"I think all but three swims were lifetime bests today, so as a coach, I couldn't ask for anything more," coach Gray said. "I think we've got some room (for more improvement). We planned taper out to focus for Saturday, not for Thursday, so in my book we've got another percent or so out there.

"The way I look at it, we've got another second or two for the 100 kids. The 200 kids ought to have another second-and-a-half to two seconds to go."

Diving will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Plainfield High School. After a break, swimming will begin at 1 p.m.

"The team goal is to finish in the top half," coach Gray said. "We know we're not going to compete with the Avons and the Plainfields and Terre Haute Souths of the world, but our goal is to get up there and beat Danville and Tri-West and try to slide into that sixth position.

"We've got something to fight for."

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