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Swanson Takes Pair Of State Titles

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: November 14, 2008

ORLANDO - Conor Swanson was in unfamiliar territory. The Sickles High senior hesitantly made his way to the top medal stand, not really sure what to do.

As the gold medal for the 200 individual medley was placed around his neck by his coach, Swanson nervously looked around.

"This feels a lot better than the silver I had last year," Swanson said. "It's a little shinier."

By the time he got his second gold medal for the 100 breaststroke, Swanson had the routine down pat. Swanson took home two state titles and four medals overall at Thursday's Class 3A Swimming and Diving Championships at the YMCA Aquatic Center in Orlando.

In the same pool last year, Swanson won the silver in the 200 IM. His time on Thursday night, 1:48.92, was good enough for automatic All-America status and was nearly five minutes faster than last year's.

"I was just going fast, and I just died really badly," Swanson said. "I got a little excited at the beginning and I just couldn't come back on that last 50 like I wanted to."
Swanson caught a break from a nearly one-hour delay due to a malfunction with the timing mechanism, giving him plenty of time to regroup and get ready for the boys 200 free relay, where his Sickles team finished second, and then the 100 breaststroke, where he swam another All-America time of 56.29. He capped off his meet by swimming a leg of the third-place 400 free relay.

"He made it look easy tonight," Sickles coach Scott Parlett said.

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 731-8025.

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