By: Carolyn M. Hartko
Once again, the South Brunswick High School boys’ swim team is benefiting from a family connection. Senior captain and four-year letter winner Brandon Lee is not only a good example for his squad, but he’s also passing on team traditions to his younger brother, Brian, who’s a freshman this year.
The swim program at SBHS is not that old, but it has already seen quite a few sets of siblings move through the ranks. Viking head coach John Harding sees the family ties as a positive for the high school program.
"Kids come out and they have a good experience," Harding said. "Then their younger siblings come out for the team, and the parents have already seen that it’s a positive thing and that the kids get a lot out of it. And I think that just kind of feeds on itself. We’ve had so many brothers and sisters on the team."
Brandon started swimming at the Willows Swim Club in Kendall Park as a nine-year-old. But he didn’t become a serious competitor until high school, and last year he also joined a year round club, XCEL, which is based at DeNunzio pool on the Princeton campus. That means he juggles practices and meets for both teams, along with schoolwork, friends and other activities. It helps that the meets with his club team are big invitationals that are only scheduled once a month.
For the first three years in high school, Brandon concentrated on the 100-yard butterfly, and the 50 freestyle races. However, this year, as one of the most experienced swimmers on the boys’ team, he’s been doing the breaststroke and the 200 individual medley. Although he will swim wherever he’s needed, Brandon prefers the specialty strokes.
"I like the breaststroke because it was the first stroke I learned from my coach back when I was nine," the 17-year-old said. "And I like butterfly because not that many people do it, so when you swim at invitationals, you have a better chance of getting a higher place."
"Brandon’s very dedicated to the sport," Harding said. "He swims for two teams and he makes the commitment of coming to high school practices as well as his XCEL practices, and I think that takes a lot. He sets a good example with how he works, and how hard he works out. I think he’s very driven, and that’s a good quality, along with his dedication for the team over the four years. He’s been a very consistent performer, and an asset for all four years."
One of the things that has made getting to high school practices more difficult this year is that SB could not use the pool at Mercer County College. Thus, the Vikings practice at North Brunswick High early in the morning.
"Every morning we wake up around 5:15," Brandon said. "We have to get to the pool by 6:00, and we practice for an hour before school. The students need to get a ride to North Brunswick. Then there’s a bus that takes us to South Brunswick.
"In a way, it’s hard, because it’s early in the morning and we’re not used to it. It also hurts us, because we only get 45 minutes of practice time. And other schools that have pools, like North Brunswick and the West Windsor’s, they easily get two-three hours of practice."
In addition to swimming, Brandon has found time for a few other high school activities. He’s a member of the Latin Club, and vice-president of the Future Business Leaders of America. Recently, the SBHS chapter of the club did very well at the regional competition held at Mercer County College. Although Brandon’s project did not place, he was very proud of everyone else’s accomplishments.
"We had a few first places, and a few others placed in the top eight," Brandon said. "Fourteen people made it to the state competition. We’re looking forward to that."
There isn’t much "free time" left in Brandon’s life at this point, but when he does get some down time, he likes to kick back and hang out with friends, catch a comedy or action movie, play video games or watch a football game on TV.
Younger brother Brian, now 14, also started swimming at the Willows when he was nine. He is already scoring dual meet points in the butterfly, his favorite stroke. And the Vikings can look forward to welcoming yet another Lee in about 10 years. Bladen, who is four, is getting an earlier start on swimming lessons than his big brothers. By the time he gets to high school, he should be winning those 100 fly races.
