One of the best things about high school swimming -- perhaps its best thing -- is that it allows swimmers of all abilities, and all physical conditions, to compete on the same terms as the best and fastest swimmers. Few high school sports are as inclusive -- and thus allowing all high schoolers the chance to compete -- as swimming.
I've seen developmentally disabled swimmers receive the loudest applause at a meet for completing a 50-yard freestyle race. I've seen state champion swimmers cheer on teammates who are legally blind, urging them when to turn so they don't hit the wall.
In that tradition, it's worth noting a story passed along by Hartford coach Pete Meinberg via email:
"We have a little person with dwarfism named Collin O'Connell. He joined as a freshman last year and could barely do 100 yards in a row without getting out and sprawling on his back on the deck. This year, he started to get pretty decent in practice and was doing 50 frees in well over 40 seconds. At the Beaver Dam dual, he got our attention when he got a 37.3 split. Now we started to pay attention to the U.S. Paralympic website. He will classify as a Class S6, which includes little people under 137 cm.
To make a long story medium, today (Saturday) Collin swam fast enough to beat two American Class S6 Paralympic records in the 50 Free (his 35.12 beat the record of 35.31) and the 100 Free (his 1:22.50 beat the record of 1:22.53.) He's travelling to San Antonio, Texas, next month to compete in the American Spring Paralympic Championships in the 50 free, 100 free, and 50 fly."
Congratulations to Collin, as well as coach Meinberg, for seeing the potential in all swimmers, not just those competing for state berths this week.
UPDATE: Here's a TV news clip on Collin:
http://www.fox6now.com/sports/witi-100221-collin-oconnell,0,5597049.story
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