Munster, Indiana is home to one of the best high school swim programs in the state and arguably the second best in the northern part of the state on the men's side. There was a time Munster was battling teams like Chesterton and even Carmel for the state title but that was back in the days of Kevin Behrens, Dillon Thompson and Joe Wulf. "It feels empowering to be apart of something with so much potential. The state as a whole has improved so much since Kevin's era and it's crazy to think that I now am comparable to the swimmers I looked up most to as a kid." "It was a let down for Munster when Kevin, Dillon Thompson, and others graduated but Beckman and I weren't so willing to let Munster's reputation just fade away." After the departure of the swimmers that made Munster a well known name, the program found itself in a hole and realized it would have to rebuild itself from the ground up. That was not too hard to do knowing they had age group standouts Beckman and Gardner coming in. "Well I guess I could say I know we should always have a good lead on the medley relay. We have always been competitive with each other at practice. He has been a little better than me in his events the past few years but I've recently realized a new potential in myself and I've improved a ton in events like freestyle and butterfly. Our best strokes are each other's weaknesses" Gardner has become better in events like the butterfly. Earlier this season he split a 49 100 butterfly but the senior is realistic about his chances of swimming that event come sectional time. "I would love to swim it tapered and shoot for Kevin Behrens's record but we decided I will probably stay with IM and Breast and Beckman will most likely swim the fly" It would be hard to sacrifice either of his events considering he swims a 56.06 100 breast and it is hard to ignore his 1:52 200 IM time as well. At last season's state meet Gardner finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke and tenth in the 200 IM. Even though he was satisfied with his performance, he knew he could do more. "My goals were to achieve team records in both events, although I missed them both by just a few tenths. In the end I knew I had raced my hardest and was content with my times, especially the breaststroke. I was disappointed to have missed top 8 in the IM but it set my hopes higher for this year and motivated me to a whole new extent." Gardner has been posting some pretty insane in-season times but he is not the only one; a few weeks ago at the U.S. Winter national and junior nationals meet a few Indiana swimmers made Indiana headlines. Swimmers like Chandler Bray, Charles Vaughan and Ian Finnerty. Avon junior Chandler Bray placed eighth overall in the 100 breaststroke at the winter junior national meet with a time of 55.11. Carmel's Sophomore Charles Vaughan had a good meet as well when he clocked in a 56.39 but there was no performance like Bloomington South's senior Ian Finnerty. Finnerty, an Indiana University commit, nearly out swam future teammate Tanner Krurz in the 100 breaststroke at the Winter national meet clocking in a blistering 54.83 but Gardner is still very confident about his chances. "I think we've all got the potential for a win, it will definitely be a great race and I have no doubt it will be a close one between the four of us" Whether he loses or wins he has the perfect understanding of how to treat his opponents. "Personally sportsmanship is always number 1 for me. If I were to hate losing more than I love winning I should never expect to win because an attitude like that portrays fear and spitefulness." Gardner started swimming at age nine with his cousin but as time went on his cousin decided that swimming is not for him and quit while Joey continued on to pave his own path in and out of the water. What is next for the Munster stand out? Gardner is hopping on the train to success. "I am going to Purdue next year and want to do everything in my power to be the best I can be and contribute to the team to the best of my ability. Purdue felt the most all around perfect-fitting for me. It's also the closest to home which is nice in case anything comes up and my parents can come watch most of my meets" The Munster men are looking to get another sectional title to add to their state record of consecutive sectional wins and a top five placing at the state meet. "We look forward to what the team we have built will become even after we graduate. We've got good vibes and a positive outlook for Munster swimming and its future." | This article was written by Guerby Ruuska of Blackrain News. |
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February 2015
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