Kyle Fabian
Photo Courtesy of The Beaufort Gazette |
10/2/09
Kyle Fabian Senior Captain
Q: What did you learn from last year’s state meet that you will bring into this year’s competition?
A: Just experience, really. Knowing what type of competition will be there, what the pool is going to be like, so I don’t have to worry about being nervous and I can focus more on the race.
Q: Coming from a team and area where most kids aren’t swimming year-round and don’t begin at such a young age, what does it say about you and your Beaufort High teammates who are still able to qualify for state?
A: It means a lot because we’ve been swimming half as long as everybody else and we’re still able to compete with them. Hopefully, it also means we have a pretty good future. We have a freshman, Elizabeth Mandell, who has a possible qualifying time for state and if she swims year-round, she’ll most likely be at state next year. Same with all the other freshman, there’s a lot of hope for the future.
Q: With all the different elements that go in to a race, from the dive off the blocks to your technique to stretching toward the wall, what do you find as the most critical stage in your races?
A: For me in the breaststroke, it’s just making sure my stroke is right. I’ll have days where I’ll jump and I’ll just feel great and really powerful, and I’ll get a 1:08 on the first meet. Then, two weeks later, my stroke felt really bad and I went three or four seconds slower. So making sure my stroke is right and having other competition in the pool helps me out. If you’re in front of everybody and see that nobody is close to you, it’s natural not to push as hard as if somebody is right beside you and you’re trying to beat them to the wall.
Q: Speaking of outside competition, since you’re underwater for most of the race, how can you tell if somebody is gaining on your lead?
A: On freestyle, it’s easier because you’re breathing from your side and you can see. On most of the other strokes, I can’t see at all. But when I do my flip-turn at the wall, I can see who is next to me at that point. On backstroke, you can see the splashing of their feet. So it’s just little things you have to look for. I go all out until I’m absolutely sure nobody is beside me. That will be especially during a big meet like state, because you know the competition is going to be big and we’re all trying to do our best to finish first.
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