State gives experience to returning swimmers

Notre Dame junior Jameson Kuper grabbed a third-place finish in one event Saturday at the boys swimming state meet, and he wasn't too far away from third in another.

Kuper finished third in the 100-yard breaststroke and was seventh in the 200 freestyle.

In the 200 free, the difference between third place -- Lafayette's Sean Mathews (1:44.60) -- and Kuper's seventh-place time (1:45.98) was just 1.38 seconds. He had one of the fastest seeding times during Friday's preliminaries for the event, in which he finished eighth as a freshman.

"That race was extremely, extremely tight," Kuper said. "I only added about a half a second from yesterday, so it's just nothing to dwell over how close that was. Two years ago, I went a 1:49 and I got eighth, and then this year I went 1:45 and I got seventh, so it's just a tighter field."

Said Notre Dame coach Lenny Kuper: "Isn't that amazing how close everything is at state? The adrenaline just pushes a lot of these kids to those extra tenths."

This year's experience at the state meet undoubtedly will help Jameson Kuper prepare for another strong run as a senior.

"I know that it's gonna be tough next year, even faster probably," he said. "I just have to work hard in practice, do the two-a-days, do the weights and everything should be fine next year."

Those words are music to dad's ears.

"He had such a positive experience," Lenny Kuper said. "I think he's ready to work hard all year for this moment again next year."

Central's 200 medley relay team of Daniel Austin, Peyton Waggener, Jason Mercer and Hunter Givens finished 15th in the state meet, while the Tigers' 200 free relay team of Kris Metje, Mercer, Austin and Givens placed 16th.

"They were happy to swim the second day, but not happy they didn't get in the top eight and get a medal," said Central coach Dayna Powell.

The Tigers' 200-medley relay team posted a time of 1:45.68 to edge 16th-place Liberty (1:46.25). The Tigers' time was their season-best by over three seconds, with all members swimming their personal-best splits.

Central's 200 free relay team of Kris Metje, Mercer, Austin and Givens had a time of 1:34.45, which was one-half second behind 15th place Oak Park.

Even the 400 free relay team (Metje, Austin, Waggener, Givens, 3:29.31), which didn't qualify for the second day, dropped seven seconds off its season best.

Another bright spot for the Tigers is that all their state qualifiers are eligible to return next season.

"We had no seniors, and I think it was a motivating type thing," Powell said.