Sophomore Adam Petro was one of the fortunate Wabash students who had the opportunity to spend his past two spring breaks at the pool. Unlike most college students, however, who were probably lounging by the water, Petro was in it, eschewing tropical locales such as Florida and Cancun for the Wabash Natatorium and intensely training for his second straight trip to the Division III National Championships.
This year’s National Championship brings with it promise and excitement for Petro, who qualified for the meet for the second straight year and is looking to improve upon his 13th place finish in the 200- yard butterfly in last year’s championship “I didn’t think about being at the championship too much last year,” Petro said. “I just kind of enjoyed the experience. This year, my goal is to get a top-8 finish.”
The event will start today, with Petro swimming in the 100-yard butterfly tomorrow night and then both the 200- yard butterfly and 200-yard backstroke on Saturday night.
Petro is hardly a stranger to swimming accolades. He has been swimming competitively since sixth grade and broke four records at his high school, Decatur Central, before coming to Wabash and setting new school records for the 200-yard butterfly (1:52.18) and 200- yard backstroke (1:53.45). Despite his record-breaking ways, his motivation is much different at Wabash then it was at Decatur Central. “In high school, it was all about breaking records and making a name for myself,” said Petro. “Now, it’s all about promoting Wabash College and helping to recruit more swimmers.”
While a trip to the National Championships is always a great accomplishment, Petro’s feat is perhaps even more impressive taking into consideration all the adversity that the swim team has dealt with this year. The team endured both a coaching change and the death of freshman swimmer Patrick Woehnker. After former head coach Peter Casares took the head-coaching job at Division III Bates College in Maine, he was replaced by current head coach John Weitz. The change was difficult for Petro, but it has all worked out for the best. “I really feel for the football team right now, because I know how difficult it is to go through a coaching change,” Petro said. “Coach Casares was amazing, and I definitely missed him. But Coach Weitz has done well, he knows swimming in and out. He is easy to get along with once you learn to trust him.”
Petro added that, although he is Wabash College’s lone qualifier in this year’s National Championship, he has several talented teammates that he fully expects will join him next year, including junior Jordon Blackwell, sophomores Elijah Sanders, Craig Vetor, and freshmen Zach Phillips Evan Rhinesmith
After almost seven months of intense training, Petro’s season is finally about to come to a close this weekend at Miami of Ohio’s Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center. Petro has been practicing for the last few weeks with an oft-changing group of several swimmers, and sometimes by himself. “I feel support from my teammates, but at the same time I realize that they’re moving on and taking advantage of precious time off,” said Petro.
Soon, he too will have time to indulge in his hobbies: relaxing, watching movies, and swing dancing. “Swing dancing is a great date idea. It’s pattern oriented, easy to catch on to, and you have to be holding hands with the girl the entire time,” said Petro. “Plus, if you mess up, you just tumble all over the girl, which is fun in and of itself,” he added with a smile. For Petro, this weekend, like swing dancing, looks to be one big win-win situation.