McCord, Hooley lead way for WHS tankers

  • By Brian Questel
  • February 22, 2010
  • 563
                        
The Wooster High boys’ swim team may have lost some sleep, but that was one of the few things they lost out on at the Div. I Akron South Sectionals. Up at 5 o’clock Friday morning for a meet that started at 7:45 to accommodate a double sectional at the University of Akron’s Ocasek Natatorium, Wooster anchored a strong performance behind the efforts of Alex McCord and Chase Hooley as the Generals finished third in the meet. North Canton Hoover dominated the meet with 410 points, followed by Jackson (307) and the Generals (281) in the 12-team field. The Generals didn’t lose much sleep waiting for the at-large bids to be factored in as McCord dominated the short sprints by winning the 50 (21.75) and the 100 (48.16), setting himself up as the third and fifth seed, respectively, in the Cleveland State District. Hooley nailed down a pair of seconds, shattering his personal best in the 100 breaststroke as he broke 1:02 for the first time with a 1:01.83 (sixth seed at CSU) and then turned a 2:04.92 in the 200 IM (seventh seed). They then joined forces with Danny Jones and Clay Matthew in the free relays to nail down a pair of silvers, with the 200 clocking a 1:31.33 and the 400 in 3:23.81. That earned both relays seventh seeds at districts. “Chase got under 1:01 for the first time, and he’s trying to get closer to (John) Glasgow’s record, which was set in 1986,” said WHS boys coach Jeff DeHaan. “If he goes one-minute-point something, he should get through (to State). The top five are automatic, so he definitely wants to be in the top five. He’s seeded seventh in the IM, so he has the ability to go in both. “These guys aren’t tapered and shaved yet, so it’s all a matter of physical ability. It comes down to the head and heart – who wants it the most.” McCord won’t be fully tapered, nor will he be shaved, rolling the die he will be good enough for one of the top five spots. “McCord’s not going to shave and he’ll be halfway through his taper,” said DeHaan. “We’re going to try to win a state championship so we want him completely rested and shaved (then). Last year he didn’t break 22 seconds (in the 50) until Sectionals … and this year he has never swum over 22 seconds. If he can go that fast (21.5) in midseason, I expect him to go faster.” Matthew will join McCord in the 100 after his fifth-place, 51.55 showing (40th seed), while Jones will also go in an individual event as well after his fifth-place 1:00.19 clocking in the 100 back. Garrett Jentes is also going in two events as he qualified in the 500 after he placed fifth (5:13.34, 33rd seed) and then joined Hooley in the 100 breast as he placed ninth (1:06.20, 27th seed). Jacob Ackerman was sixth in the 100 butterfly, dropping a half-second time-wise (58.34) but earning an identical 37th seed from a year ago. “Danny was 37th, which is crazy. He barely made it with a minute flat,” said DeHaan, who also saw huge time drops from other swimmers who failed to move on. “We’ll see Clay drop (in the 100) when he tapers and shaves, but he’s all about the relays. He’s swimming the 100 because he could and I bet he drops into the top 20-25. I can see Jentes breaking 5 minutes (in the 500) and going 1:03 to get some points for us. “We’re definitely motivated. Both relays are seeded and they performed really well Friday. I expect we’ll drop more time.” Districts were slated for 3 p.m. Friday at CSU.


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