Semoball

Cape Central boys swimming feels target on back, class changes open door to larger-than-ever group of local swimmers

Cape Central swim team state qualifiers include, from left, front row: Daniel Seabaugh, Kelly McGhee, Ben Steelman, Miles Frazier, Sam Hahs; back row: Jack Maxton, John Kiefner, Jacob Bening, Truman Vines, Brogan Davis, Hyrum Dickson. The Tigers begin their state championship defense today in St. Peters, Missouri. The meet concludes Friday.
Fred Lynch

Even now, Cape Girardeau Central boys swimming coach Dayna Powell has to pinch herself every once in a while.

"I still think about it like, 'Did we really win?'" Powell said.

Yes, the Tigers really did win their first-ever team state title a year ago.

Nearly 365 days later, Central remembers what that felt like, and it wants to do it again as it prepares for the 2017 Boys Swimming and Diving Class 1 State Championships on Thursday and Friday at the St. Peters Rec-Plex in St. Peters, Missouri.

State swimming qualifier - Jacob Bening - Cape Central High School
Fred Lynch

"It definitely raised the bar," Powell said of last year's title. " ... Honestly, we got that taste of what it's like to be a state champion and we're hungry for that again. I hope we're hungry enough to make that happen again. It's definitely within our reach with good performances and us keeping our head in the game where it needs to be. But you never know and we've got to be prepared for lots of things."

Central is sending 11 swimmers to the meet and is seeded No. 1 in eight of the 11 swimming events.

The goal this weekend, as Powell puts it, is to "complete the mission."

"Definitely (want) to win and win as by as much as we can," Central senior and defending gold medalist Brogan Davis said. "On an individual basis, I guess to have as many individual state champions as we can. Just be the best we can.

"It's definitely a different approach to things. ... Instead of shooting at the target, we're the ones with the target on our back. That's been a big difference. We've been training a lot harder, training a lot different than before. Everyone has really stepped up as a team. You see guys who kind of flew under the radar last year are ones on the state team now."

Davis is competing at state for the fourth time and is the defending champ in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 butterfly -- he's atop the seedings in both events this year -- while helping the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay to first-place finishes.

Fellow senior Sam Hahs is also a four-year state qualifier and school record holder for the Tigers. He is the top seed in the 100 breaststroke and second behind only Davis in the 200 IM.

"It's my last shot to do what I want to do and I have to treat it more important than I have any other state meet," Hahs said. "Obviously I want to get best times across the board for me, and I'd like to win the 100 breast. I'm seeded to do that, and if I have a good swim I'll be able to do that."

The key to a team repeat, though, will lie with another group of Tigers -- the ones who traveled to state for the first time a year ago and now hold a larger weight on their shoulders.

As a freshman, Jacob Bening swam the lead leg of impressive 200 medley relay and 400 free relay wins, finished third in the 100 freestyle and was seventh in the 100 backstroke. This time around, he's a veteran as a sophomore and is seeded No. 1 in the 100 free and 100 back.

Fellow sophomore Daniel Seabaugh swam last year's 500 free consolation heat, but this year sits atop the pysch sheet entering the 500-yard event and is also third in the 200 free, while classmate Truman Vines is a top-nine seed in both the 200 free and 100 fly.

Junior Hyrum Dickson is seeded second in the 50 free and third in the 100 free -- both events won last year by the now departed 2017 Semoball Awards Boys Swimmer of the Year Reagan Ragsdale.

That group will provide the depth it takes to win a team title.

"Jacob has shown, 'Hey, I'm here, and you're going to have to beat me to win this,'" Powell said. "Daniel's done the same thing in his events. He's seeded first in the 500; last year he was in the consolation heat. When they left last season, I believe they knew right then, 'Hey, next season I want to be here.' Truman's same way -- he's worked hard. And Hyrum. Those four have certainly stepped up."

The Tigers have won the last two 200 medley relay state races, setting state records both times, and enter with a time that's 4 seconds better than the closest squad. In the 400 free relay, the defending champs have a 6-second gap in psych sheet times. The 200 free relay, which featured returning qualifier Miles Frazier and won the consolation swim a year ago, is seeded second.

Those relays are critical for the team standings, garnering more points than a standard race. On Tuesday, Powell said she had no idea who would swim which relay races, but felt confident in the versatility and flexibility of the group to get the job done.

State swimming qualifier - Miles Frazier - Cape Central High School
Fred Lynch

A change by the Missouri State High School Activities Association in the offseason has altered the sport's landscape, moving from one classification to two, with Central placed in Class 1. The change has been a mixed bag for the Tigers, but has mostly been met with frustration.

A year ago, Central could say it beat all comers. Now, it won't be able to test itself against the biggest programs in the state and won't be pushed by the faster times that come with those battles. That's certainly been a source of consternation for both Powell and her swimmers.

"It's extremely frustrating," Hahs said. "It's not like there's not going to be anyone there -- there will still be talent -- there's just not as much depth this year. While we do have better opportunities to score higher this year, we can't take it for granted. We really have to take it seriously, starting in prelims."

While the competitor in each of the Tigers is left wanting more, the change did open up the door of opportunity for more swimmers than in the past. That's helped grow Central's qualifying group, which includes first-time state attendees John Kiefner, Kelly McGhee, Benjamin Steelman and Jack Maxton.

That means seniors like Kiefner and McGhee get to experience state before they graduate, while underclassmen Steelman and Maxton learn the ropes.

"Those class changes, I haven't really been excited about it. The only time I got excited about it is that I have some four-year seniors who have never gotten to swim at state individually, and now they get to," Powell said. " ... That's a real plus."

After feeling what it was like to win as a team a year ago, Powell said that's become an emphasis this year. The bar has been raised higher than it has ever been.

"I'd say (they're) locked in," Powell said. "I hate to say we won't be satisfied under certain circumstances, but when these guys were freshmen we wanted to go on a mission to promote swimming in our school and in our community and represent Southeast Missouri. I'll tell you, they have done that. So the plan for this weekend is complete the mission."

Area success

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Jackson's Thatcher Wilson competes in diving Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 in the SEMO Conference swim meet at Central Municipal Pool.
Fred Lynch

Central has been the largest and most successful of the contingents from the area competing at state, but it's not the only one.

Other schools have taken advantage of the wide-open Class 1 field, and Jackson is sending three individuals to state this week: senior Adam Hecht (200 IM, 100 breaststroke), junior Brandon Pemberton (50 freestyle) and sophomore Thatcher Wilson (diving).

A year after not having a single state qualifier, Notre Dame has eight swimmers heading to the big event.

The seniors leading the way for the Bulldogs are Noah Merideth (400 FR), Cody Bunger (200 MR, 200 FR), Drew Beussink (200 free, 200 FR, 400 FR) and Stephen Gullette (200 MR, 400 FR), while a group of younger swimmers will lay a foundation to build on in the future: sophomore Nicholas Hux (50 free, 100 free, 200 FR, 400 FR) and freshmen Noel Keran (200 MR), Joey LeGrand (200 FR) an Nick Landewe (200 MR).

Class 1 action begins today at noon with preliminary swims, while diving starts at 5:30 p.m.

The top 16 finishers in preliminary races move on to the championship (top eight) and consolation (9-16) finals that begin Friday at 10 a.m.

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