Making Waves

Making Waves

By: Josh Helmer

Photo Provided by the Oklahoman

The Oklahoman

Known as an accomplished force in the sprint freestyles, Norman North junior swimmer Aiden Hayes left everyone buzzing with his 200-yard butterfly performance at the 2019 Speedo Winter Junior Championships last month at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.

The 16-year-old from the Sooner Swim Club swam a 1:41.34 to win the 200 fly by nearly three seconds over Jonathan Affeld (1:44.02). That time moved Hayes into second place all-time in USA Swimming history for that event among the 15-to-16-year-old age group, unseating Michael Phelps’ 2002 time of 1:42.10 and finishing just behind Luca Urlando’s 2018 time of 1:40.91.

“The swim he put down there, the time that he posted was incredible. That 1:41 swim was a shocker,” said Norman North and Sooner Swim Club coach Kent Nicholson. “That is an all-timer, a big-time swim right there, so, yeah, we were pretty fired up. Beating Michael Phelps when he went at 16, if you can go faster than Michael Phelps did, you’ve got something going on.”

Hayes’ previous best in the 200 fly was a 1:47.01, meaning he dropped almost six seconds at Junior Nationals. Hayes accounts his success to the support he received.

“Definitely couldn’t have done it without my teammates there. That was really special,” Hayes said. “We actually had some other teams from Edmond who stayed there with us. They were there for the weekend, came to support that night, and I was very appreciative of that.”

Posting that time in the 200 fly validated what Aiden’s father, Ben, and the rest of his coaches have been telling him for some time.

“My dad and my coaches have been telling me ever since I started swimming that the 200 fly was going to be my main event, and my best chance to make the Olympic Team,” Hayes said. “I’ve always denied it, denied it, denied it until we got to Saturday of this meet. It kind of became a reality.”

Finishing ahead of a name like Phelps is something that Hayes is proud of but he said he is planning to keep things in perspective.

“Going that fast was extremely special and being able to be up there with names of that caliber is great, but I think the best thing to do for any athlete, no matter what level of competition, is keep a level head and stay as grounded as possible,” Hayes said.

Hayes is the No. 2-ranked recruit in the high school class of 2021, according to swimswam.com, and he’s committed to N.C. State. The future Wolfpack swimmer also won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 19.58 and the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 46.31. His 46.01 time in the 100-yard fly was good for a second-place finish and his 44.01 time in the 100-yard freestyle represented fourth place.

Nicholson was also pleased with Hayes’ Sooner Swim Club teammate Daniel Wilson’s finishes in the 100- yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly. Wilson earned podium trips with a second-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 43.42 and a third-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 46.68.

Norman Swimmers Set High Marks at National Meet

Photo provided by: The Oklahoman

Wilson, a senior, has signed a letter of intent to the University of Missouri. His coach said his best days are in front of him.

“He hasn’t been swimming very long. He hadn’t really started competing in the sport until his freshman year. He came to us the summer after his eighth-grade year. His development, he’s not anywhere close to hitting the top end of what he can do. He’s going to have an incredible career at Missouri,” Nicholson said.

Hayes already possesses an Olympic Trial qualifying time in the 100 fly and hopes to obtain qualifying times in the 200 fly, 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle before trials in June 2020.

Wilson is also aiming for an Olympic Trial qualifying time in the 50 freestyle. Their next opportunity to register qualifying times will be at sectionals in March.

“I think the best thing to do in swimming is not focus specifically on time, but focus on effort, technique, putting as much as possible as you can in,” Hayes said. “And whatever happens, happens.” – BSM

Daniel Wilson, Coach Kent Nicholson, Aiden Hayes