South senior propels Pirates to win over rival North
By: Justin Feil
John Winters has been a club swimmer like some of his West Windsor-Plainsboro High South boys’ swimming teammates, but over the years he’s also put much of his free time into interests outside of the pool.
The WW-PS senior was a football player for the Pirates for two years and also played lacrosse for three years. His most recent endeavor has him playing electric bass for a band Mung with a group of friends.
Winters’ goals for what he expects will be his final year of competitive swimming are much like those of the Mung drummer.
"I’m trying to go really hard this year," Winters said. "I really want to end with a bang."
Winters’ hard work in the early season on the heels of summer training with Hamilton Aquatics already has produced some hits in the pool. Winters won both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races and anchored the 200- and 400-yard free relays as the Pirate boys improved to 3-0 with a 109-61 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro North on Thursday.
"It’s a big rivalry going on and we were obviously hoping to win," Winters said. "It felt good to win."
Winters touched out long-time friend Larry Rosa in the 200 free relay in the closest event of the meet.
"I’ve known him for a while," Winters said. "I swam with him in 10 to 12 (year old swimming). The first time was Peddie Aquatics. Then we both went to Whitewaters. We’ve been friends for a while."
And while Winters finds no particular pleasure in defeating friends or strangers in the pool, the relay win was important because of how narrow the margin and how uplifting the win was.
"The way John finished the 200 free relay really lifted our team," said WW-PS head coach Paul Hamnett, whose girls also improved to 3-0. "It was really nice to see our guys step up to that challenge. Both John and Quentin (Walsh) gave Rosa a run for his money, and he could be the best swimmer in the county."
Rosa was too tough to beat in the individual medley and 500 free. Otherwise, it was all Pirates, with the most exciting 200-free relay of the early going falling to WW-P South. Winters teamed with Dan Le, John Chiu and Boone Wheeler for the 200 free victory in 1:38.66.
"It was really close," Winters said of the tenth-of-a-second win. "I had about a half body length (at the start). But Larry is extremely good. I was very excited to win.
"He’s amazingly good," he added. "I always thought he was going to come from behind to pass me. I didn’t want to let that happen."
Winters’ own kick helped preserve the Pirates’ perfect start. WW-P South faces Ewing 2:30 p.m. today at The College of New Jersey before taking two weeks off before its next meet.
"I think I have started off the year very well so far," Winters said. "My times have almost been as good starting off the year as they were at the end of last year. Mr. Hamnett has been pushing us a lot harder in practice from the start. That’s helping us get a lot better a lot quicker.
"We have a few Hamilton swimmers who do it year-round. I did the summer session and then it ended and winter began. I didn’t do the winter so I had a month or two off before high school (swimming). For me, Hamilton kept me in shape. High school got me going."
It’s helped also that Winters remembers frequently that he’s likely in the final year of swimming before going off to find new interests in college. It’s something that Hamnett sees out of the senior in the way he practices.
"He’s very good," he said. "He’s very talented. As long as he keeps working hard, he should be able to do pretty well for us."
The priority for both Winters and the Pirates is the end-of-year performance. WW-PS has always been among the best in the Colonial Valley Conference, but the last two Mercer County titles have gone to Princeton. And the Pirates would like a sectional crown as well.
"We’re trying to place well in the county," Winters said. "We’re trying to go pretty high in the CVC. Hopefully we’ll go farther in the states. We’re trying to do our best."
Winters has some high personal goals as well, goals that if he reaches should help put the team in good position. He’d like to be under 23 seconds in the 50 free and somewhere in the very low 50-second range for the 100 free. That should help solidify his status as one of the top county swimmers, and a leader for the Pirates, something he’s already helped establish with his strong 200 free relay finish. With anchor legs like that, WW-PS has a chance to beat anyone.
"We have lost a lot of really good swimmers over the years," Winters said. "This year, a lot of people have stepped it up and we’ve gotten a lot better in the relays. We’re going to count on some of the young kids to fill in for us. They’re doing well so far.
"I really want to help the team," he added. "If I do well, the team usually does well. I’m trying to work harder and do the best I can."
Winters’ success Thursday translated into a South win. It’s a win over the Knights something that always adds luster to the matchup.
"There’s always going to be a rivalry," Hamnett said. "It’s friendly though. It’s North-South. They’re friends and they support each other outside. But once they’re in the pool, they’re trying to beat each other."
Thanks in part to a highlight finish in the meet against North, Winters and the Pirates can feel pretty good about how they’ve opened the season, and pretty good about how the rest of it is shaping up.
"He came in in good shape," Hamnett said, "and he’s had his goals in mind. He’s worked a lot harder this year. He’s practiced better, and it’s going to make a difference at the end of the year."
Just when John Winters wants it to for his smash-hit finale in the pool.