Trio swims past competition

This year was a monumental one for swimming in Caldwell County. Hibriten's boys made a run at the 2-A state title - ultimately finishing second - and South Caldwell's girls returned to prominence by securing their second conference title in the last four years. Three individuals, in particular, helped accomplish those goals: Hibriten's Kyle Hites and South Caldwell's Stacie Swanson and Andrea Frye.

For their efforts, Hites, Swanson and Frye have been named the 2007-2008 Caldwell County Swimmers of the Year. The honor is presented by the News-Topic and brought to you by Kelley's Sports and Awards.

Kyle Hites

Hites made Hibriten swimming history at the state meet in Raleigh, winning both the 200-meter individual medley event and the 100 breaststroke, in addition to contributing a leg on each of Hibriten's two record-setting relay teams. He was named co-MVP of the state meet for his accomplishments.

“It was all a blur,” Hites says. “Everybody was winning so much and we had so many good racesŠ There was just a lot of happiness that day. We were all excited.”

Frequently lost in the shuffle with Hibriten's other talented swimmers like Stephen Bottoms and Ted Esch, Hites stood out thanks to his otherworldly performance at the biggest event of the swimming year. Though Hites says he likes flying under the radar, he likely won't have that luxury anymore.

It isn't hard to see why Hites is so good: practice and work ethic. Each weekday begins with a trip to the Stronach Aquatic Center in Lenoir. He swims from 6-7 a.m., then heads off to school. After school, he returns to the aquatic center, where he typically swims until at least 8 p.m. (9 p.m. if he is working that day as a lifeguard).

“This place is my home,” Hites says, poolside as usual. “I really spend most of my time here.”

With two more years of Hibriten swimming still in his future (Hites will be a junior this upcoming season), Panther coach Chris Washburn sees even more possibilities.

“It's a luxury to have somebody like Kyle any time,” Washburn says. “And to be able to have him for two more years is just unbelievable. There's no limit on what he could do.”

That leaves only one question: How does one top a year that ends with a state co-MVP award?

“I'm just going to swim all summer, and I'm going to do two or three practices a day during the season to try to work on my strokes,” Hites says. “And we'll see what happens.”

Andrea Frye and Stacie Swanson

Lady Spartans Frye and Swanson kicked off their high school swimming careers four years ago with a conference title in their freshman season. They spent three years trying to recreate that scenario. And after some hard work, they were able to exit just as they entered: as champs.

“It was just such an adrenaline rush to win it, especially by one point (over East Burke),” Frye says. “We just wanted it so bad.”

Swanson seconds that notion.

“That was our goal from the beginning,” she says. “And we just made it happen. It was a lot of fun.”

Individually, Frye and Swanson were a big part of South's journey back to the top of the Northwestern conference. Frye was named South's Most Valuable Swimmer for the third straight year, and was a member of the first-team all-conference in the 50 freestyle and the second-team all-conference in the 100 breaststroke. She was also a part of the second-team all-conference 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams.

Swanson garnered co-MVP honors during her senior season. She was first-team all-conference in the 100 freestyle event and second-team all-conference in the 100 backstroke. She was also a Western Regional qualifier in the 50 freestyle event.

“These are two swimmers that really developed over the course of four years,” South Caldwell coach Brent Tomberlin says. “They are irreplaceable.”

Swanson and Frye have been swimming together for five years, and though they brought different skill sets, Tomberlin insists both were essential to the team.

“Andrea was the most consistent swimmer we've had, someone who just didn't like to lose. And Stacie was someone who grew into it, especially over the last two years,” Tomberlin says. “They are very different swimmers, but both very talented and we needed both of them: One that was used to winning and one that became a winner.”

Frye is headed to East Carolina University, where she likely will swim on the club team. Swanson will attend Wingate, and is also considering club swimming.