boy’s 200 IM

GOOD TENNANT: Princeton High boys’ swimmer Owen Tennant heads to victory on the 200 individual medley last Thursday against WW/P-South. Sophomore star Tennant also placed second in the 100 breaststroke in the meet as PHS fell 100-70 to the Pirates. The Little Tigers, who dropped to 3-1 with the loss, host Nottingham on December 20 in their last meet before the holiday break. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Owen Tennant and his teammates on the Princeton High boys’ swim team were fired up for their matchup against visiting WW/P-South last Thursday.

“We were excited but we knew that this was going to be difficult, knowing that South had some good swimmers,” said sophomore star Tennant. “We just wanted to get out there and do our best and have fun.”

Tennant went out and had fun against the Pirates, winning the 200 individual medley and taking second in the 100 breaststroke to provide highlights as PHS lost 100-70 to move to 3-1 on the season.

“I consider myself an IMer and a breaststroker and I knew that if I was even with him after the fly and the back then I would be able to push away in the breaststroke because I knew that wasn’t his strongest stroke,” said Tennant, reflecting on his victory in the IM. I just pulled ahead and came home strong in the freestyle.”

Tennant did battle with freshman teammate Josh Kim in the breaststroke race.

“Usually I swim the IM and the back but the next day on the Friday, I had the 100 breast at Holiday Classic so I asked coach [Carly Misiewicz] if I could swim it as practice,” said Tennant. “We knew that Josh is a really good breaststroker, it was good to get the 1-2 in that event.”

With PHS trailing just 48-46 entering the 500 freestyle, Tennant was proud of the way the team battled.

“We were all motivating each other, we all tried our best, which is very important,” said Tennant.

“We knew that they had some good 500 freestyle swimmers and they pulled away from us after that. Hopefully by counties and states, we will all be ready and get some better results.”

Tennant came into his sophomore season ready to excel. “I swim for a smaller club Whitewaters, there is only about six of us so we get really good one-on-one training,” said Tennant. “This season so far I really decided to keep my head down and just work every practice and the results are showing.”

Competing with his older brother, senior Oliver on both the club and school teams has helped Tennant progress.

“It is good because we motivate each other,” said Tennant. “He is a really good swimmer, and it is good to have someone at practice who you can race and swim with.”

PHS head coach Carly Misiewicz is excited with Tennant’s development into a really good racer in his second season with the PHS squad.

“Owen has really come into his own a lot as a sophomore, he is following in his brother’s footsteps but creating a path of his own,” said Misiewicz, noting that Oliver is back in action after having been sidelined earlier in the season.

“He has done great things and he is a great leader already as a sophomore. I am seeing those qualities with him coming up to me, saying ‘why don’t we do this instead of that.’ He is always trying to be creative with lineup as well, especially with him being a very versatile swimmer. He can swim almost anything.”

Sophomore Will Murray has also been coming into his own this season. “Will always comes up clutch for us in the sprints and butterfly as well,” sad Misiewicz, noting that Kim, Jeshurun Reyen, and Logan Eastburn have all been swimming well in the early going for the Little Tigers.

“He won the butterfly today. His 200 free was not his best but he came up with that relay right before that and he had a great 50 free anchor to give us the win for that. He is another one who is very versatile, swimming the IM, freestyle, and butterfly.”

Although PHS didn’t get the win against WW/P-South, Misiewicz saw the meet as a nice measuring stick for her squad.

“It was a good battle; it is good for us, getting ready for the second half our season coming up,” said Misiewicz.

“We have got Lawrence, we have got Notre Dame, we have got WW/P-North. They are all in January so that is going to give us a good idea of where we are and where we still have to go as a team. Ultimately the goal is the counties and the states and that postseason run.”

Tennant, for his part, is looking to make an impact in and out of the water for the Little Tigers.

“I am a club swimmer so I don’t really too many practices with the school swim team,” said Tennant.

“I want to develop more in the team aspect and hopefully make the A final at the counties in the 200 IM and maybe the 100 back or 100 breaststroke.”