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Sunday, February 11, 2018 | BataviasBest.org
They may be a small group, but they’re a strong group nonetheless. The Batavia Boys Swim Team, who have swam as a part of the Notre Dame squad throughout the regular season, will take to the pool as a trio at the Section V Class B Swimming Championships next week – hoping to make a name for themselves.
“The Batavia Boys are in a unique spot,” commented Notre Dame head coach Eric Geitner, who has been overseeing the BHS trio’s training this winter. “All season they don’t score points in meets, and with only three of them, they don’t have a chance to swim relay events.”
Despite the obstacles placed in front of the three Batavia strokers, Cooper Mattice, only a freshman, has been the leader of the bunch and represents Batavia at the Section V Championships as the #2 seed in the Class B 100 backstroke, and the #3 seed in the Class B 100 butterfly.
“(Cooper) had a great meet last year, and finished near the top in the fly and back,” said Geitner about the freshman’s emergence. “I think that opened his eyes to not only shoot for winning a Sectional Title, but striving to reach a state-qualifying time. That is something he has been thinking about since last season, and it would be great to see him to accomplishment that this year.”
Tyler Kleinbach (9th grader) and Cooper Fix (7th grader) have also endured successful 2017-2018 campaigns as members of the Batavia threesome, and enter next week’s Championships as the #23 seed in the 500 freestyle, and the #27 seed in the 200 freestyle respectively.
“All three Batavia swimmers are very intrinsically motivated, and at the same time they support each other,” continued Geitner. “It has been a great relationship (between the two schools). Looking at the bench during a meet, you would never know they represent two different schools.”
The Section V Swimming Championships kick off this week. Stay tuned for updates from the pool.
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