Thursday, March 31st, 2016
Swimmers headed to nationals
By Colin Foster
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
AMFY Swim Team members Claire Gass, seated in front, and, from left, Justin Fleagle, Wesley Ruedebusch, Pierce McGowan and Keaton McMurray will compete in the YMCA Short Course National Swimming Championship on April 4-8 at the Greensboro Aquatics Center in Greensboro, N.C.
Celina middle schoolers Keaton McMurray and Claire Gass are heading back to the YMCA Short Course National Swimming Championship for a second consecutive year.
They'll be joined by familiar faces from the AMFY Swim Team in Wesley Ruedebusch (Celina), Pierce McGowan (Minster) and Justin Fleagle (St. Marys) when the meet kicks off April 4 at the Greensboro (N.C.) Aquatics Center.
"It's nice because it's kind of a celebration for all of the work you put in throughout the season," said Ruedebusch, a state qualifier for Celina this season. "Sometimes you get to meet Olympians, but you also get to meet great coaches and learn what other kids are doing from around the United States."
McMurray will be the busiest of all area swimmers. He will compete in the 50-yard freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 fly and 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay with Ruedebusch, McGowan and Fleagle.
"It's good to go back and swim more events," said McMurray, who earned a qualification in one event last year.
Gass qualified in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes again. She is hoping to earn a finals spot after falling short last year.
"I'm seeded a lot higher, so that's a good feeling," Gass said. "I'm hoping to make it in the finals. That'd be top 24. I'm seeded 26th."
Justin Fleagle, the younger brother of Ohio State swimmer and Olympic hopeful Josh Fleagle, will compete in the 50 free and 100 back. And Justin's got big plans ahead for this meet, too.
"In the 50 free, I really want to go under a 22 (seconds)," he said. "In the 100 backstroke, I want to break our league record of 52.87. ... It's pretty fast, but I think Keaton and I will both be able to beat it when we get there. I just want to finish as best as I can and hopefully break some records."
This will be the last hurrah for McGowan and Ruedebusch, both of whom are on the cusp of high school graduation. McGowan will leave Minster as the record-holder in every individual event with the exception of two, the 100 backstroke and 100 breast. Ruedebusch is coming off a sensational senior season for Celina, qualifying for state in three different relay events.
Knowing the quality of competition staring them in the face, Ruedebusch said winning a heat would be an accomplishment.
"I think maybe winning heat is the best idea," Ruedebusch said. "Getting in is a great opportunity and it's a great achievement. You've just got to go and see what you can do. For me and Pierce, it's the last race of our careers as we know it. We'll just try to make it as special as we can, and hopefully these guys can tag along for the fun."
