B Team, New Swimmers Make Impact
12-0, and the B-Team is helping them all the way.
That’s the Camas High Boys Swim team’s record so far this season, and as they prepare for their final regular meet this year it’s a good time to reflect on the journey.
These swimmers are giving their all when they practice in the cold water at wee hours of the morning. They’re pushing their bodies to the limit at competitions, and demanding more of themselves each time they jump off the starting block.
And they’re winning and breaking records this season.
When a meet is scored, it’s based on individual and relay times. We report on the winners of the events, but there’s more to it than that. When a team like Camas wins a meet, it’s based on the top five times for each individual event, and the top three times for each four-man relay event.
Camas, for example, has an A relay team, as well as B and C teams that contribute to the overall score, and their team’s success.
Leaders like Kasey Calwell and Lucas Ulmer have had an amazing season, winning numerous races, along with breaking several records, but they acknowledge and appreciate the strength of the B teams and lesser-experienced swimmers.
“The Freshman and B teams have been amazing this year,” said Calwell, a junior at King’s Way Christian, who swims for Camas. “We couldn’t have been an undefeated team without them. They’re doing a great job.”
Camas had their smallest victory last week against Union, and Calwell wholeheartedly acknowledges the strength of the B teams for pulling them through.
It’s young guns like Jeff Fadlovich, Colin Kuhta, Luke Albert, Kevin Chen, Tom Utas, Noah Macia and Kevin Wang (who just returned to swimming), to name a few, who are excelling this season. Then you have Cade Greseth, who is new to swimming altogether, having a tremendous time.
“It’s been a fun first season for me,” said Greseth. “It’s been a good start. I haven’t met a swimmer I don’t like, at least on our team. I’m a runner, and it’s much more difficult than running. I will swim all four years of high school.”
Wang has made a fun return to the sport after a multi-year hiatus.
“I’m surprised how well I did this season,” Wang said. “I met a lot of new friends and the team is performing extremely well overall. It was hard to get back into it at first, but you just have to pull through. The reward is definitely worth it when you put it all out there during meets. Overall, it’s been a fun season, but it feels like it went by too quickly. It’s a great experience everyone should try out if they like swimming.”
Fadlovich, a freshman who earned a spot on one of the A relay teams, has had an excellent start swimming for Camas.
“This is a great team,” he said. “We practice daily at 5:15 am, and these guys encourage me to do better. They keep me going. I’ve competed in the 500 Free, 200 Free, 100 Backstroke, and the 100 Fly. It’s been fun, and it’s a good challenge to race these events.”
Practices are tough. The boys swim about 140 laps every morning. And freshman Kuhta says it’s not for sissies.
“It’s helped me to be more disciplined,” Kuhta added. “It’s been difficult, but it’s also been pretty fun. I do the 200 IM and 100 Fly. I’ve been on the A 200 Relay. I’ve learned that it’s just hard to compete with the seniors.”
For his part, Kuhta has won several events this season, and is encouraged to keep pushing himself, despite the pain associated with super early and very vigorous practices.
Wang said he’s seen the swimmers improve dramatically as the season has progressed. They work hard during practices in the morning and it shows during swim meets.
Sophomore Noah Macia, agrees.
“We’re getting better, “said Macia. “We are training really hard in practices. We are stepping up the intensity at practices and that’s making the difference in the relays. Right now I’m shooting for a state time.”
Coach Mike Bemis said the B teams are making a huge impact this year to the team’s success.
“It’s a strong bunch, period,” said Bemis. “They take it seriously, and it shows at the competitions. Their times keep improving and I think we’ll do well at our last meet and at Districts. We may even see several of them at State. It’s a great season.”
 Noah Macia, right, cheers on Jeff Fadlovich. Lucas Ulmer is seen at left on the starting block. |
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