ON THE FLY: Princeton High boys’ swimmer Stephen Kratzer heads to victory in the 100 butterfly in a win over Hamilton earlier this month. Senior star and co-captain Kratzer has starred in the sprinting events this winter for PHS as it has posted a 6-4 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Although the Princeton High boys’ swimming team got off to a rough start this season, losing three of its first five meets, Stephen Kratzer believed that experiencing those setbacks toughened up the squad. 

“We learned what events to swim and what events not to swim,” said senior Kratzer.

“We learned what it takes to be a team, what it takes to get everyone as motivated as possible and swim as fast as they can. We have been doing that recently and it has been showing.”

Last week, Kratzer and his teammates showed that they can be formidable as they routed Robbinsville 136-33 on January 12 to win their fourth straight meet.

“I was really happy with how everybody swam, it was a good meet,” said Kratzer.

“Heading into counties, we know it is the time we have to shine. We have got to step everything up so we have been practicing a lot more intensely. We have been focusing a lot more and I just feel like when the time comes at counties we are going to do some great things.”

Kratzer did some good things individually in the meet, placing first in both the 50 and 100 freestyle races.

“I was happy that I had some competition from my own team and from the other team,” said Kratzer, who also helped the PHS 200 and 400 free relays to victory. “I was happy that I was able to push myself.”

As he makes the final push of his high school career, Kratzer is honing in on the sprinting events.

“Last year I did the 200, sophomore year I did the 500, every year I come down,” said Kratzer.

“I think it is changes in training and the way I am training. I am focusing more on the 50 and the 100. I feel like I will have the best shot at counties this year, based on the other teams and their 200 and 500 swimmers.”

Kratzer and his classmates brought a special focus into the Robbinsville meet as it marked the program’s annual Senior Day celebration.

“It just snuck up on me; I wasn’t expecting it,” said Kratzer. “At the start of the season you think this is going to be the last season and Senior Day is a night in January and that is two months away. That is a while but it comes so fast. It is really surprising.”

In reflecting on his PHS career, Kratzer said it has helped him really appreciate the sport and working with his teammates.

“This is a lot of fun, I really love this team,” said Kratzer. “It has been amazing, it has re-sparked my love for swimming. It has definitely made me realize that I want to swim in college.”

For Kratzer, being a team captain has helped him reciprocate his affection for the program.

“I don’t feel like it has been that much different than before,” said Kratzer, whose co-captains are classmates Christian Chiang, Jackson Miller, and David  Cohen.

“It was coming up with team psyches beforehand, talking to the officials before the meet. We usually try to meet at break before each meet during lunch in school and we just talk about our goals for the day and our goals for the season, usually that motivates people to achieve those goals and swim fast.”

With PHS wrapping up regular season action with a meet at Hopewell Valley on January 21 as it tunes up for the county championships from January 28-30 at WW/P-N,  Kratzer is psyched for a big finish.

“We need to stay positive, we need to stay motivated, and obviously stay focused on our goals that we set in the beginning of the year,” said Kratzer, who won the 100 free in a losing cause as PHS fell 86-84 to Lawrence last Thursday to move to 6-4 and see its winning streak snapped.

“We just try as hard as we can and give 100 percent each race, that’s all you can ask for.”