The word “dynasty” is thrown around loosely in the world of sports sometimes, but what the Class 5A Gwinnett County boys swim and dive teams have done over the last few years has to be categorized as one.
Since 1992, Brookwood, Parkview, Collins Hill and Shiloh have combined for an incredible 14 state championships. Parkview, a dynasty in its own right, has won eight of those titles, boasting wins in 1995,’98, 2000-03,’06 and ’07. Since 2000, no school from any other county has won a 5A boys state title.
So, literally, what are they putting in the water down in Gwinnett? Most, if not all of the swimmers for these top programs train all year with various club teams around Atlanta. Dynamo, Swim Atlanta, Gwinnett Aquatics and Summit Swimming are some of the club teams that produce some of the most talented swimmers in the country. According to Parkview head coach Jack Gayle, that extra experience pays off in high school competition. “I think any and all year-round programs help our kids,” Gayle says. “The ability to stay in the water consistently from February to October is a huge benefit in swimming. I encourage them to join up and stay in shape during the summer months.”
The ability for these teams from one part of the state, to stay on top has not come without hard work and sacrifice. “I think high schools in Gwinnett have done whatever it takes to be successful,” adds Gayle. “It has taken a long time, but we’re just now seeing the full extent of the results. Gwinnett is absolutely the most dominant county in the state when it comes to the high school boys.”
TEAM EFFORT
Swimming is generally seen as an individual sport and sometimes the concept of team can get lost in individual successes. The Gwinnett programs, however, all emphasize the concept of team success. “A team can win state either way, but I think a solid mix provides the best chance for winning a state championship,” Gayle says. “It’s always nice to have some superstars on the team, but if you don’t have those scrappy swimmers clawing away for individual points at the bottom of the top 16, you’ll never be as good as you could have been.”
An oft-overlooked part of competition in high school becomes a strength for a well-rounded team, Gayle says. “Divers are the unsung heroes of the state meet. Just one good diver can swing the outcome of the meet in your favor if the other teams are lacking divers,” he adds.
Over these dominant years, a few swimmers have stood out among the rest. Parkview’s Eric Shanteau, who swam for the Panthers from 1998-2002, went on to swim for Auburn University and in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing. Lance Needham of Brookwood set many state records and was named the 1995 state swimmer of the year. Shiloh has had many great swimmers, including Brock Newman, who was on the Generals’ two state championship teams (’92, ’94), and also won the NCAA title at Auburn. Collins Hill is not without individual stars of its own, producing Greg Tunning, who was named 2005 state Swimmer of the Year.
HEAD TO HEAD
When these teams swim against each other, the meets always come down to the wire. In a recent meet, Brookwood defeated Parkview 156-153, with the outcome decided on the last race. Brookwood has consistently finished runner-up in the county meet to Parkview and Collins Hill. In 2008, the Broncos came up short again at county, but they were able win their first state championship later in the year. The county meet has become something of a mini state meet, with the winner having the inside track to the state championship on most occasions.
The state meet creates an altogether different level of competition for these swimmers, as Andrew Ruffin of Parkview found out a year ago. Ruffin broke the state record in the 100-meter butterfly, only to realize that a swimmer ahead of him also broke the state record and he had only come in second place. That is the kind of drama that the state meet creates, and it should be no different this year.
“The state meet is going to be so close this year that the team who is the most consistent and aggressive in prelims will be the team who is in the best position to win come finals,” says Gayle. “This could be one of the fastest state meets we’ve ever seen, with more teams competing for the top spot than ever before. It’s stressful, but exciting at the same time.”
It will be no surprise this week if the dynasty continues for the boys up in Gwinnett County.
Deighton can be reached at jdeighton@scoreatl.com.
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