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Wednesday, March 16, 2016 | BataviasBest.org
Chris had a fantastic year for the Irish. Here is his profile:
Chris Lemley – Notre Dame High School – Swimming
6’0″ – Junior
Career Highlight #1 – “Swimmer of the Meet at the GR League Championships.”
Career Highlight #2 – “Qualifying for the NYS Championships in the 100 backstroke.”
Career Highlight #3 – “Setting Notre Dame school records in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke.”
Favorite thing about High School Sports: “High school sports are great because you can join a team as a beginner and just learning but there are also opportunities for kids with previous training to succeed. It’s also a great way to meet kids from all over the area.”
Most memorable moment in High School Sports career: “Its tough to name just one moment. I thought being named Swimmer of the Meet at the GR Championship was the moment until I qualified for the NYS Championship Meet at Sectionals.”
Plans after High School: “I plan to attend a four-year university, majoring in Civil Engineering. I also hope to continuing swimming in college.”
AB: You had quite the successful year. What helped you remain consistent throughout the season, and into states?
CL: Swimming is a sport with that requires a lot of interval motivation, so as long as I could keep that up, I was able to continue to improve throughout the season. I’m also am very thankful to have great coaches. Mr. Geitner and Mr. DiBacco kept my training on track to reach the ultimate goal of the state meet.
AB: What’s the best part about being a swimmer?
CL: In swimming, its very easy to measure and compare yourself with others, it’s not a subjective sport. I also like how your level of success is individual, you alone are responsible for how good, or bad you are.
AB: What’s different about swimming than other sports? Besides it taking place in the water.
CL: Swimming is harder than most probably realize. Our practices are 2 hours long and I will swim around 6,000 yards in a single practice ( 240 lengths of the pool). Swimming is different in that you have to have delayed gratification, your times won’t drop until the end of the season. It’s hard to stay focused on the big meets when you want to do good in duel meets as well.
AB: What is the most important skill for a swimmer to conquer?
CL: Flip-turns, under-waters, and stroke efficiency are technical skills that are important to any race. It’s also important to build up your endurance by swimming straight distances longer than the actual race.
AB: Finally, what would you say to a young athlete deciding between winter sports?
CL: Swimming will definitely get you in great shape with its intense practices. Also, swimming is a sport where you never get to sit the bench; you are always participating and contributing to the team. Swimming his hard at first which scares most people away in the first week, but if you stick with it, it gets easier and you get better.
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As a former swimmer when I was in elementary school, I can appreciate the uniqueness of the sport as a whole. Despite its different nature, though, Chris seems to have conquered it.
Other articles you may like:
Matt Genaway (Alexander Boys Basketball) – Winter Sports Spotlight
Hannah LaGrou (Oakfield Girls Basketball) – Winter Sports Spotlight
Reid Miano (Pembroke Boys Basketball) – Winter Sports Spotlight
Winter Sports Spotlight: Here are the athletes we have spotlighted thus far – more to come
