Sports - December 2003

North Lincoln Knights swimming their way to success

Published December 17, 2003

By JOHN MARK BROOKS, Staff Writer

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The advantage of a team that doesn’t have a lot of members is cohesiveness.

North Lincoln’s head swim coach Libby Fletcher insist that’s what her young team has.

“We count on every single one of them to swim their best. Each swimmer is a key to our success,” she said.

The North Lincoln swim team has an abundance of youth according to Fletcher.

“We have all ninth and tenth graders with the exception of one junior. We have a very young team but they’re doing very well,” she said.

The downside of being small in numbers is that it puts limitations on scoring.

“We have a lot of potential, but we are small in numbers which limits the amount of points they can score. We’re looking to improve as the season continues,” Fletcher said.

The Knights, despite limited facilities, have shown extreme dedication to the improvement.

The swimmers practice three times a week at the Lincolnton YMCA.

Fletcher, although grateful, said the Lincolnton facility does pose one problem.

“They’re really working hard. We’re practicing at the Lincolnton Y, so we don’t have starting blocks to practice on,” she said.

With the next meet on January 10th, Fletcher has to compensate for the amount of time between meets.

“We do have practices scheduled during the holidays and they’ll be swimming during the lap time at the Y over the holidays,” she said.

Missy Wilkinson, a former high school swimmer, and Barbara Nix who is a former AAU coach serve as assistant coaches to the team. Nix is volunteering her time, while Wilkinson is on staff at North Lincoln. Fletcher said she couldn’t do what she does without their assistance.

“They’ve provided great leadership and expertise in establishing the team,” she said.

Assistant Principal at North Lincoln Aaron Allen, used to be swim coach at Kings Mountain. According to Fletcher he’s been instrumental in helping.

“He’s helped in scheduling meets and ordering equipment,” she said.

Fletcher’s husband Louis Fletcher has also pitched in to help the team’s cause. The People’s Bank Vice President has driven the team bus on more than one occasion.

  Team members are Nicole Baxter, Sean Bertran, Jenny Boyles, Cassi Chambers, Toni Deon, Jesse Dick, Becky Duggan, May Eisner, Nickele Gates, Jordan Greer, Kayla Greer, Megan Hatfield, Matt Kishimoto, Autumn Mohr, Aaron Ng, Logan Riddle and Matt Williamson.

In their first meet of the season, the Turkey Invitational, several swimmers from North placed. Jenny Boyle, Nicole Baxter, Becky Duggan, May Eisner and Nickele Gates all placed on the women’s side. Sean Bertran and Logan Riddle also swam well for the men.

In the Shelby Meet, their second of the season, North had swimmers that placed on the women’s side and men’s.

Boyle placed third in the 200 IM, Baxter was fourth in the 500m freestyle and fifth in the butterfly.

Gates recorded a fourth-place finish in 100m breaststroke, Cassi Chambers placed fourth in the 100m backstroke. May Eisner notched a fifth-place finish in 200m freestyle, while Becky Duggan placed sixth in the 500m freestyle.

For the men, Aaron Ng earned third place in the 200m freestyle, Matt Kishimoto was fourth in the 100m backstroke and Bertran placed sixth in the 50m freestyle and sixth in the 100m freestyle.

In their most recent action on December 12th at the Isothermal Community College Meet both swims swam relatively well.

The Lady Knights were shorthanded with only four out of ten swimmers present due to sickness.

However, those four ladies had an impressive day with Chambers swimming her way to a first place finish in the 100 yard butterfly and Gates earning first in the 100 yard breaststroke.

The 200 medley relay teaam of Boyle, Chambers, Gates and Megan Hatfield also garnered a first-place finish.

Boyle also placed second in the 200 individual medley and fourth in the 100-yard backstroke.

Chambers, who placed third in the 100-yard backstroke and Hatfield, who was fifth in the 100-yard freestyle, rounded out the women’s 79 points.

The men totaled 80 points and a third place overall finish. Kishimoto did his part placing second in the 200-yard freestyle and fourth in the 100-yard backstroke.

Bertran was fourth in the 100-yard freestyle and fifth in the 50-yard freestyle. Ng placed second in the 500-yard freestyle and Jesse Dick placed third in the same event.

Riddle contributed with a third-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke, a fourth-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke, while Jordan Greer placed fifth.

Matt Williamson was fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke. The 400-yard freestyle team of Bertran, Kishimoto, Ng and Riddle garnered first place to finish out the scoring.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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