Hooley has big goals, big mission for final swim campaign

  • By Brian Questel
  • December 1, 2010
  • 316
                        
Wooster High boy’s swim coach Jeff DeHaan knew this season would different. Graduation always takes a toll, and the fact that Alex McCord, the most storied swimmer in nearly 80 years of swimming at WHS, had taken his talents to Ohio State clinched that view. That was an undercurrent of thought that began last season with the idea this year would be more difficult, and Chase Hooley admitted to succumbing to those doubts at times. “I felt the same,” admitted Hooley, a senior captain this year. “Not as bad as some of the guys, but I knew it would be difficult. I knew it wasn’t going to be as easy missing two of our best guys. But, we still have a lot of talent.” There is little question the Generals do, and it begins with Hooley. The senior is a two-time state qualifier and has a piece of three school records, including the 100 breaststroke and legs on the 200 and 400 free relays. It’s not surprising that DeHaan is looking for Hooley to not only assist in silencing those whispers of negativity, but helping the 2010-11 swim squad forge its own legacy. If Hooley reaches his individual goals, those will go a long way toward lifting the Generals to another fine season. “He made state in the IM as a sophomore and the breaststroke last year, and I know he wants to make (state) in both and break both (school) records,” said DeHaan. “Those are the ultimate goals and it should be. I have every reason to believe he can break his own (100 breast) and Pat Stewart’s (IM) record. That’s less than half-a-second for each 50 (IM leg). That’s doable. I’m thinking he can break it by a second or more. “He worked hard at HealthPoint all summer and came in a lot stronger. Already we’ve seen that in the time trial times we do weekly. We just finished our third and he’s been consistently faster than a year ago. “Chase isn’t one of those really cut guys – there is a lot of brute strength,” added DeHaan. “He’s bigger and stronger … and he’s moving faster than ever.” If Hooley wants to reach his goals, it was necessary he put in that extra work. “As a sophomore I went in one individual and last year in the other individual. This year I hope to make it in both,” said Hooley. “I was very disappointed in not being able to do that last year. And you always want to get a relay to State. It’s more fun having more guys with you, especially close friends.” Both records are in his sights as well. “I’d really like get the 200 IM record,” he said. “That’s been my goal since I was a freshman. I’m not a real big fan of the IM, but since I swim it and can swim it decently, it would be nice to get the record. “And, I want to bring (the 100 breast record of 1:00.02) down to 58. I didn’t beat that record by that much, so it’s a good goal to push for.” That won’t happen without preparation, which Hooley has been doing since the end of last year “I’ve been pushing myself more,” he said. “I worked all through the summer. I knew there was a lot more on my shoulders and that Clay (Matthew) and McCord were gone. I was in the gym constantly, three times a week at least. I wanted to put on some weight and get stronger.” DeHaan said Hooley has always “embraced and thrived” in situations where more is asked of him. “We looked at him as purely as someone in the breaststroke and IM coming in,” said DeHaan. “He’s the 10th-fastest freestyler ever with a 22.49, which is incredibly fast for a breaststroker/IMer. He’s up there with some stud sprinters as a stroker, which was one surprise when he stepped into that role as a sophomore. He stepped into that leadoff spot, which is high pressure. It’s a high profile spot and he thrives in that atmosphere. As a sophomore he led off faster than (eventual All-Ohioan) Ethan (Crabtree) did as a freshman – he had a 22.88 and Chase as a sophomore went 22.63. He’s obviously not a low 21 guy, but to be that fast as a stroker is impressive. “He wants to get better. He wants to be sub-one minute (in the breast) and sub-two minutes (in the IM). That’s his motivation. He wouldn’t care if it was negative stuff – he’s that kind of kid. … He does have some bad habits, but he’ll take correction. In the free, for example, his head moves a lot, and that is huge with him leading off the 50. You want to roll the body and not the head. If you’re thrashing your head around, that slows your stroke down. “In practice, you’re doing 300-400 turns, so it gets monotonous. Every stroke you have to think. You’re constantly thinking what’s going on because it’s easy to get into bad habits. It’s not like a water faucet – you can’t turn it on and off. To be at the top, it has to be perfect.” Hooley comes from a swimming family, as his sister, Whitney, and brother, Kyle, both left Wooster with records, college scholarships and as an inspiration. “They are actually why I started,” said Hooley. “I saw how successful they were. I wasn’t that good at other sports, so I thought I would give it a try.” That final try started Dec. 4, when Wooster traveled to Youngstown State for a quad meet against Canfield, Warren Harding and Boardman. “It’s going to be fun to watch him work again and hopefully he can get a couple other guys to join in and get the relays (to State), too,” said DeHaan.


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