Plainfield Flyer Group

 

By Todd Taylor

Before the 2008-09 season, Tri-West junior John Van Dyke set a goal for himself – to finish in the Top 5 at state in the 100 butterfly.

Van Dyke accomplished that goal and also finished in the Top 5 in another race, the 200 freestyle.

The 200 freestyle was a race Van Dyke hadn’t even identified as his second event until the Sagamore Conference (SAC) meet.

“Going into conference his best time had been 1:51 and he dropped to 1:45, won the conference meet, and took us both by surprise,” Tri-West coach Don Dorrell said. “He got out of the water and said, ‘200 free … let’s do it.’”

At the state meet, Van Dyke finished fourth in the 100 butterfly (50.59 seconds) and placed fifth in the 200 free (1:41.38).

“If you had told me I’d swim 1:41 I’d have said you were crazy,” Van Dyke said. “I thought going into the finals there was no way I could drop my time anymore.”

For his accomplishments Van Dyke has been named the Hendricks County Flyer Male Athlete of the Season.

The state meet was the culmination of a memorable season for Van Dyke.

At the county meet he won the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle; at the Sagamore Conference meet he won the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle and also swam with two winning relay teams – 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay; and at the Avon Sectional he won the 100 butterfly and the 200 freestyle.

Van Dyke’s success came despite his missing most of his summer training with an injury to his supraspinatus – a muscle in the shoulder.

“I had to take about three to four weeks off and did a lot of dry-land training,” Van Dyke said. “If I had been training the whole time, the summer would have been better for me. It was relaxing, but I would’ve much rather been in the pool.”

Last season Van Dyke finished 14th in the 100 butterfly at the state meet. It was the first time the Bruins’ program had scored at the state meet. Van Dyke’s efforts this season gave Tri-West a team score that ranked 25th in the state.

“It’s really exciting, everyone has been so supportive of me,” he said. “Students came out to the meet with my name painted on their chest. It was great to be able to come away with two Top 5 finishes.”

Dorrell says Van Dyke’s contributions to the program go beyond the record books and scoreboard.

“He leads by example and he works really hard,” Dorrell said. “He encourages everyone in meets and gets on them in practice. A lot of kids have seen his success and have been encouraged to join the program.”

For his senior season, Van Dyke is eyeing the highest spot on the podium.

“The summer will do a lot for me,” he said. “I’m coming back ranked No. 1 in the 100 fly.”