Junior Trent Frandson has helped the Ankeny boys’ swimming team to a 6-1 dual record. He won all four of his events as the third-ranked Hawks posted an 86-84 victory at No. 6 Ames on Thursday.
Frandson was named the state’s swimmer of the year as a sophomore, when he won both the 200 and 500 freestyle events at the state meet to lead Ankeny to its first overall crown. He has committed to swim for California.
Here is some inside info on Frandson:
How is the season going thus far?
The season is going well. Our team has been putting in some really great training, and I’m having a lot of fun swimming with the guys.
What has been the highlight for you?
The highlight has probably been swimming some more off events and getting good times in those (events). It’s a lot of fun to mix it up sometimes.
Were you happy with your swims at the CIML Central Conference meet on Saturday?
Yes, I was. I was most impressed by my 200 IM swim (2:02.23) because that was around a best time for me.
What did you think of your team’s performance?
Our team did pretty well. I was happy for all the (junior varsity) swimmers because this meet was more about them, with this being their last meet of the season and everything.
Was the team pretty motivated to avenge an earlier dual-meet loss to Dowling Catholic?
I’m sure the JV guys were pretty hyped up about it, but most of our varsity didn’t swim their best events and most varsity Dowling kids didn’t even swim. The teams tried to make it more about the JV swimmers versus a big competition between the top-end teams that were there.
I know you missed the Dowling dual meet because you were competing in the Winter Junior Championships in Seattle. Were you surprised when you heard that your team lost?
Yes, a little. (Dowling) is a great team, but we took the loss as motivation because our main goal is doing well at state.
You are currently ranked first in the state in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, but coach Justin Crouch told me that you will likely try to defend your state titles in the 200 and 500 freestyle events. Do you think you could contend for a crown in those other events if you chose to swim them?
No, most likely not. I am friends with most of the top contenders from those events, and it would take the swims of my life to beat some of those guys just from me knowing my potential and their best times.
Coach Crouch also told me that he has a difficult time motivating you because you are already so self-motivating. What do you do to motivate yourself?
I think the biggest motivator to me is not wanting to get slower and not training my hardest all the time at this level is how you go backwards fast, so I feel really guilty when I don’t do my best at practice.
Do you often feel like you are racing against the clock, because you’re so far ahead of your competition?
Swimming has always felt like I was swimming against the clock. That’s just the nature of the sport for me, even when I have really tough competition. Have you set some time goals that you’d like to meet this season?Yes, but my main goal this season is to help my team as much as I can to get another state title.
Your team is currently third in the state power rankings behind Iowa City West and Waukee. What is it going to take for your squad to defend its state title?
Some really good swims from all of our swimmers and some great teamwork.
