Hendrix aids HHS team after switch in focus
By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Sam Hendrix had to make a big choice last fall.
The Hillsborough High School sophomore had grown up playing football, starting out as a center who would eventually play on an undefeated middle school team before playing tight end at Hillsborough. But he also found success in the pool, and to ensure even greater success, he had to give up football to swim year-round.
”I’m a really big fan of swimming now,” Hendrix said. “My big deterrent for joining SVY was SVY was constant. You always have to be swimming, you swim so much, and that wasn’t one of my attractions. I always wanted to do different things and try out different things. I wasn’t excited about that, but it pays off.”
The payoffs have come quickly with astronomical drops in time. When Hendrix tried out for the HHS team as a freshman, he swam 1:07 for the 100 freestyle. A month ago at a club meet at the Ocean City YMCA, Hendrix finished the 100 free in 48.24 seconds.
”I’m kind of blown away at the fact that my time’s dropped that much,” Hendrix said. “I didn’t expect it to happen like that. When I found out at that OCY meet, I was blown away that I could drop 20 seconds in the 100. It’s been crazy.”
The time drop has helped Hendrix become an even bigger points contributor for the Raiders. He won the 50 free in 22.06 seconds and the 100 free in 48.78 seconds as the Hillsborough boys ended their team dual meet season with a 109-61 loss to Westfield in the North Jersey Section 2 Group A final.
”We were ecstatic to make it that far,” Hendrix said. “We tried to stack the most important things like the relays because we knew Westfield was also undefeated. We tried everything we could to win. We tried to win it. Even though some races got 1-2-3’d, I think we did pretty well in the overall meet.”
The Raiders had won all year with strong up-front swimming coupled with great depth. Westfield had a little more of both. Hendrix and Brad Zdroik, who won the 200 individual medley in 1:54.69 and the 100 backstroke in 52.38, were the lone Raider swimmers to win an event. Even the relays that have been reliable winners all year were edged by Westfield.
”I think it is shocking at some point,” Hendrix said. “We did know that other teams are also really good and also have really strong teammates. The depth of their team can really prove as a challenge.”
The Hillsborough girls also ran into a deep Westfield team that made the difference. The Raiders gave them quite a challenge in an 89-81 loss in their sectional semifinal meeting. Hillsborough won eight of the 11 events, including the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay, but couldn’t hold off Westfield.
Julieyanna Parker won the 200 free in 1:51.15 and Megan Bull won the 200 individual medley in 2:09.21 to stake Hillsborough to an early two-point lead. Parker won the 100 butterfly, and the Raiders only took second and fifth in the 100 free. Lindsay Temple won the 500 free to cut the deficit to six points before Westfield went 1-3 in the 200 free relay. Temple won the 100 back in 57.18 and Bull captured the 100 breast in 1:09.11, but the Raiders would have needed a 1-2 finish in the 400 free relay to force the outcome to power points.
Both the Hillsborough boys and girls are shifting their attention to the Meet of Champions that will be March 1 and 2. The Raiders have some of the top relays in the state. Hendrix is looking forward to swimming in the 200 medley and the 200 free relay, the latter in which Hillsborough has swum the top time in the state this season.
”Since we have the best relay that I personally could ask for, I think we have the chance of winning it even though we didn’t beat Westfield,” Hendrix said. “Going with a 1:27, I think we can maybe get close to that and maybe even beat it and win the Meet of Champs.”
Hendrix feels that the team is gearing up for a big finish. He saw some encouraging times in the sectional final, where the competition from Westfield pushed the Raiders to some outstanding finishes.
”I was trying to score as many points as possible in individuals and relays,” he said. “I tried my best. As hard as those guys were, it proved to be a challenge. I had to swim to the max of my potential.
”I was close to my best times in the 50 and 100. In the relays, I got one of my best. When I found out that I did all those times, I was overwhelmed with joy because if we were all swimming to the best of our abilities, I thought we could make it a pretty close meet.”
Hendrix’s improvements have ensured that he is a far faster swimmer than last year. His development has helped the Raiders grow as a team, and they figure to remain a strong team next year with plenty of juniors and freshmen returning along with a sophomore class led by Hendrix. As he looks forward, he eyes the potential to remain in the sport beyond HHS.
”I would love to swim in college because it’s more competitive,” Hendrix said. “I want to see what other people from around the country and maybe even see if people from other countries can show us some competition.”
Hendrix still enjoys a day off from swimming when he has the chance to branch out to his other interests, but he is fully on board with his top sport, and not looking back anymore.
”I decided to quit football and make swimming my main focus,” Hendrix said. “I think that was one of my better choices. I think swimming is a better sport for me than football.”