Newcomer Bowman aids Hun swimming

Wins pair as Raiders top Rutgers Prep

By: Justin Feil
   Connor Bowman made an impact as a freshman on the Princeton High boys’ swim team last year.
   He’s doing the same for The Hun School co-ed team this year after transferring from PHS. The sophomore won the 200 and 500 freestyle races and was a part of two winning relays as the Raiders defeated Rutgers Prep, 106-64, Tuesday in their only home meet of the season. After opening up with losses in their first two meets, the win was something Bowman was more accustomed to having come from PHS.
   "It is a lot different," he said. "At PHS we did phenomenal, even though we lost Jesse Applegate (now a Rutgers University sophomore). Here, we’re expecting to win two or three meets. I was looking forward to more celebrations.
   "That was cool," he added of Tuesday’s win. "It was a boost in team morale. It’ll bring us closer together. That helps when you get the team cheering for each other."
   Bowman should give the Raiders plenty to cheer about this season. Even though he is not a year-round swimmer anymore, Bowman has the sort of proven background that will make him a factor in any meet, regardless of what he swims.
   "I put him in backstroke in the first meet because he’s a good backstroker," said Hun head coach Madeline Jones, whose team does not compete again until Jan. 7. "I knew he could probably get us a win. Then I moved him to the 500 for the last two meets. I have depth in the distance events, but I didn’t have anyone that could win those. He’s pretty well-rounded. I figured, let me try him in distance."
   So far, so good for Bowman, who consistently swam the 200 free and the 100 backstroke last winter for the Little Tigers. He’s adjusting to his new role with the Raiders as the freestyle distance ace.
   "The 500 is pretty rough," Bowman said. "I’m not used to it. The 200 is the same muscles. The good thing about backstroke was it was different muscles. Now I’m doing the same thing both races."
   While Bowman might need a more frequent massage, he doesn’t mind taking on a new event. Especially if it means a few more celebrations for Hun.
   "Whatever gives us the points," he said. "We want to win. If they want to put me in breast, my worst stroke, I’ll do it. I’ll do whatever to help them out."
   But he won’t overstep his bounds. He’d like to bring some of the spirit of PHS to the Hun team. He thinks it could only help bring the team closer. Eventually, he’d like all his new Raider teammates to experience the camaraderie he did last season.
   "I’m still a sophomore," he said. "Maybe next year I’ll take more of a leadership role and psyche the team up."
   Jones says that Bowman’s addition is enough to help the Raiders replace some losses and be more competitive this season. Hun has a few more swimmers than usual, and the depth along with some quality addition like Bowman adds to the optimism.
   "We lost Brett Cavanaugh, Magnus Greenacre and Jeff Sussman, who were our main freestyle guys last year," Jones said. "Connor and John Mulvey and Brad Lewis replaced those three guys and they’re doing well.
   "I feel like we’re probably going to be able to win more meets than we won last year," she added. "Blair is a comparable team to us and Ranney is comparable. And George School, in recent years, we’ve lost by a few points. It’s just a matter of getting another couple of swimmers to add to the depth. I expect to come close or win Blair, Ranney, George and the Wardlaw-Hartridge meets. That’s all we have. Then we have some practice time before counties and states."
   Both counties and states will have a different feel to them this year. Bowman will swim in the prep states this year after helping PHS win the Central Jersey B championship in the public state tournament last year. And he’ll be swimming against some of his Little Tiger teammates when he represents Hun at the Mercer County Championships at the end of the season.
   "It’s going to be kind of weird," Bowman admitted. "At the same time, it’s kind of cool to know your opponents."
   Bowman knows them well, which made for a bit of a tough adjustment in the beginning of the school year. Not only did he have to adjust to a different school, but he had to make new friends. The in-the-pool stuff came easier.
   "It’s still swimming," he said. "It’s hard to adjust coming from public school to go to private school. I’m pretty used to it now. And my grades are better so I guess it helped. I miss my friends from PHS, but I still hang out with them."
   Hun is certainly happy to welcome another competitive swimmer to its mix. Jones learned quickly that Bowman would be a big help to the team.
   "I talked to his mother and she said she brought him to Hun for academics," Jones aid. "Typically that’s who we get on the swim team. They just happen to swim. It’s the luck of it. He happened to swim. He knew (swim assistant) Mark Kolman from water polo prior to the swim season. He swam for Princeton. The first time I ever heard of him or saw him was the first day of practice. I was pleasantly surprised."
   Bowman came into the winter season after spending the fall in the pool for water polo. That was a little better for his fitness even than running for the PHS boys’ cross country team last winter.
   "Water polo definitely helped," Bowman said. "But my technique has been sabotaged by water polo. In water polo, you have to keep your head up to see where the ball is. I have to keep thinking about keeping my head down now. But I guess I have a stronger neck now."
   It’s not the only thing stronger as a more filled out Bowman expects to chip away as his personal bests of 1:54 in the 200 free as well as the sub-minute goal when he swims the backstroke.
   "This year, I gained 10 pounds," he said. "I’ve filled out a bit more. Hopefully that means more horsepower. I’m hoping to improve my times. It’s not nearly as intense a practice, but we’re still working. I think I can do it."
   Connor Bowman has already made an impact. Setting some personal bests will only make it that much bigger.