FEDERAL WAY -- Sumner’s Connor Powers-Hubbard has a lofty goal: To stand on top of the podium Saturday night in both of his individual events.
The senior got a step closer on Friday.
Powers-Hubbard was the top qualifier in the 100-yard breaststroke and had the fourth-fastest preliminary time in the 100 freestyle during the Class 2A state swimming and diving championships at the King County Aquatic Center.
He also has an interesting relationship with his coach: She’s his mom.
“It can be interesting at times,” Powers-Hubbard said after he climbed out of the warm-down pool Friday night.
Sumner head coach Dana Powers grinned when she told the story about how Connor got his start in the sport when he was 12.
“He’s just a fighter,” she said. “He knows how to work hard. He grew up around the water and loves it.”
Connor gave up all the other sports he loved – quad racing and football among them – to concentrate on swimming for his senior year.
And he even convinced his coach – his mom – to let him swim the backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay.
“Aside from the fly, his backstroke is his worst stroke,” Dana said.
Connor’s concern was recovery time. He planned to swim the 100 free, the 200 free relay and the 100 breast, three events that are fairly close to one another during the course of a championship meet.
“It was just not enough time between events,” he said.
His proposal was to give up the 200 free relay and swim in the medley relay. Another breaststroker, junior Severn Anderson, could turn 50 yards in about 30 seconds, so he could lead off with the backstroke.
The Spartans made that switch at the district meet, and it worked. They didn’t reach the automatic qualifying time but earned their way in with a top-three allocation.
“Out of the blue, we took a relay to state that was very questionable,” Connor said.
A year after they lost their top three swimmers to graduation, including Connor’s cousin, Trent Powers, they sent a few younger participants to the biggest high school meet of the season.
The 200 medley relay finished 12th Friday night in 1:48.80, a personal best. Junior Sam Parks and senior Reid Selmer finished the final two legs for the Spartans.
Sophomore diver David Kakuk finished 14th with 105.10 points.
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