Page 120 - 1980

Instant team-just add water
fi i T hey were all outstanding, one
I of the best group of girl swim­
mers that Ralston has had.”
Under the direction of head coach
Larry Hill, the swimmers ended the
season winning nine of their 13 dual
meets.
‘‘With only one senior on the
squad, the team should have lacked
experience, yet nine of 13 gals qual­
ified for the state meet in Lincoln in
at least one event,” said Hill. “ I don’t
feel the team was inexperienced.
Most of the gals had come up
through the local swim clubs, so
they had gotten the experience of a
big meet already.”
Nine girls qualified for the state
competition. Junior Diane Whalen
received a medal for the 500 yard
freestyle in Lincoln and was also the
champ at Metro and the Husker Invi­
tational.
Coach Hill said the boys’ swim­
ming team also had a good season,
not so much as in statistics, but in
team ability.
“The season went much better
than expected considering the loss
of six good senior swimmers from
last year’s team,” said Coach Hill.
An asset of the team was the ver­
satility of some team members being
able to swim anything. Performers in
this class were freshman Mike
Cleveland, sophomore Jon Bucklin,
junior Perry Wiseman, and seniors
Paul Weber and Dan Zimmerman.
The strongest team event was the
breast stroke, swum by senior Paul
Weber.
Outstanding swimmers in each
class, based on criteria by Mr. Hill,
were freshman Mike Cleveland,
sophomores Rob Ek and Jon Buck­
lin, junior Perry Wiseman, and sen­
ior Paul Weber.