By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – During the Senior Night introductions, each of the seven Bedford North Lawrence honorees included a “favorite coach quote” in their list of favorite moments and future plans. Evidently swimming coaches are a fountain of wit and life-lesson knowledge.
BNL’s Adam Young just submitted another gem for consideration among the memorable: “You don’t cut your fingernails before a race.”
Does extra keratin and longer talons make a swimmer faster in the water? Doubtful. Young’s point, while questionable in hygiene, was proven when the Stars won a highlight race by that sharp margin.
With senior Isaiah Eicle splashing to the wall in the anchor leg of the 200-yard freestyle relay, BNL won a race by the narrowest difference possible – .01 seconds. Shorter fingernails would have cost Eicle and the Stars that satisfaction.
While Columbus East spoiled the festivities with a sweep of both meets, Eicle and fellow seniors Jayden Duke and Isaiah Conner combined with Oliver Brown to win that hotly-contested relay, clocking 1:40.03. Eicle, whose nickname is Iceman, was cool during the final strokes in a grueling battle with East’s Keaton Stephenson. The amazing part, aside from the photo finish, was the fact Eicle had just completed the 500 free race and had only a few minutes of recovery time.
“Going into it, with the first three guys keeping it really close, I couldn’t let them down and lose it,” Eicle said. “I had to give it everything. It was tough. It’s Senior Night, and I wanted to win something. It definitely felt good doing that.”
“I’ve said it many time, you don’t cut your fingernails before a race,” Young said. “And it was a good finish. We work on those for just that – not taking a breath into that last section. That was the difference.”
The Olympians were too tough in most of the events, as they recorded a 108-75 win in the boys meet and a 115-64 triumph in the girls.
In the boys meet, BNL’s only other winner was Garrett Gabhart in the 100 backstroke (56.77). Young’s focus was on the depth that could make a difference in the postseason.
“We’re a little tired, but we’re improving non-stop. I couldn’t be happier,” he said. “There are a couple of guys that have just been killing it. Dustin Haltom and Cameron Irwin are really coming on, and we need that. Our weakness for the sectional right now is that third spot. It’s going to be a close one, and getting them the times they need will be the difference maker.”
In the girls meet, BNL’s Ava Lipp was a double winner, taking the 50 freestyle (27.58) and 100 backstroke (1:06.74). Cookie King won the 100 butterfly (1:07.48).
The rest of the honored seniors included Jayden Kemp, Koen Schiller, Bridget Keen and Evija Buike. There are other home meets remaining on the schedule, but this was the designated night for the traditional parent walk and photo ops.
“It’s still emotional,” Eicle said. “I’ve been swimming since sixth grade, when I didn’t even know how to swim. It’s been a big part of my life. It means as much to me now.”
The Stars will compete at Mt Vernon on Saturday.
