Panama City swimmers warm up with winter event

JASON SHOOT
The News Herald

You'll have to excuse more than a dozen swimmers from the Panama City Swim Team if they aren't wholly focused on the PCST Invitational scheduled for today.

The meet is slated to begin at 8 a.m. at the Gulf Coast Community College pool, but many PCST swimmers are looking ahead to more prolific meets, including the Southeastern Swimming Championships scheduled for March 7-10 in Nashville, Tenn.

Today's event will include as many as 150 swimmers from throughout the Southeast. In addition to PCST, clubs from Alabama, Georgia and the Panhandle will compete.

But despite the high number of competitors, many PCST members will cut back on their times a little bit to rest up before the SESC.

"For those who have qualifying times already, they'll swim fast (today) but won't put out 120 percent just because after the meet is over they have to begin to taper down toward the (SESC)," PCST coach Carl Kleinschmidt said. "We're going to decrease their yardage, increase the rest and work on their speed. When we get there we want them to be as fit as can be."

Many of the team's swimmers are already in peak condition.

Paul Erben, a 17-year-old specializing in the breaststroke and freestyle events, has qualified for sectionals - a step above the SESC - but he will be looking for faster qualifying marks today. Sectionals are set for March 2-3 in Augusta, Ga.

Taylor Pippins, 14, has qualified for the SESC in three events, but is close on several others. He is closing in on qualifying marks in the 50-meter, 100 and 200 free, the 100 and 200 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley.

"He has a lot on his plate, a lot to get focused on," Kleinschmidt said. "If he can do that, he can walk away with several qualifying marks. Then he'd have a much better time when he goes to Nashville. You don't want to go up there to swim one race."

Other local boys qualifying for the SESC include brothers Greg (14) and Richard (12) Greer, as well as Christopher Duncan (10).

Fourteen-year-old Jessica Chandlee may be the PCST's strongest swimmer. There is certainly no doubt she is the team's best all-around swimmer, as witnessed by her qualifying in the SESC in an incredible 14 events.

Eight-year-old Kaitlyn Blais, will compete in a similar regional event in Pensacola the same dates, and she is likely to take it easy today.

"She has qualifying cuts in 10 events," PCST coach Carl Kleinschmidt said. "She's an awesome little swimmer. As she grows and gets taller, she can be an outstanding little swimmer."

Blais is joined by sisters Nicole (13) and Felicia (14) to earn qualifying marks already this season.

Other girls who may be thinking ahead are Shanna Halsell (18), Marisa Sweetser (17), Jessica Hasley (15) and Brianna Newsome (10).

Kleinschmidt praised Newsome, who has only been with the team for only six months and has yet to tap into her potential.

"She's like Jessica," the coach said. "When (Chandlee) first started she had a natural feel for the water and a natural desire to get better at the sport. I see the same thing in Brianna. By this time next year she should have several qualifying times."

The local swim team consists of 60 athletes, and Kleinschmidt said the team is building itself up for the future.

"There are several more kids up and coming, but they don't quite have the ability yet," he said. "But the potential is there in a lot of the swimmers. I like the sort of kids we have. They're working hard to move themselves up the ladder."