03/23/2009
enlargefrom the Kennebec Journal
STATE HOUSE BALDACCI: CUT $63M MORE
Many happy returns in Richmond
Tax woes land on Whitefield
Rapist denied new trial
AUGUSTA MINDING A MINE
SPORT OF KINGS Falconry a blend of dedication and commitment
COLLEGE HOCKEY: Maine rallies but falls short against Boston College
COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Colby women win season opener at home tournament
All of today's:
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from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
WEDDING BURGLAR JAILED
Youths talk Turkey Day
Plenty of free Thanksgiving meals available
Turkey prices make for a happy holiday
Kennebec County Superior Court
POLICE
COLLEGE HOCKEY: Maine rallies but falls short against Boston College
COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Colby women win season opener at home tournament
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
Staff Writer
Last winter, Caleb Hoffman made the hard decision. If he was going to swim, it was all he was going to do.
"It was pretty tough. I really like football and I really like tennis, too," Hoffman, a junior at Waterville Senior High School said. "I just wanted to focus on swimming and get as good as I can at it."
The sacrifice was worth it. Hoffman placed fourth in the 200 yard individual medley at the Class B state meet, and also took fifth place in the 100 breaststroke. Those results, coupled with Hoffman's Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference title in the 100 breaststroke and second-place finish in the 200 individual medley, make Hoffman the Morning Sentinel Boys Swimmer of the Year.
Bob Johnston, Hoffman's coach at Waterville, said the junior's newfound dedication to swimming was the key to his success this season.
"The work ethic he's kind of developed has helped him," Johnston said.
"Once he focused entirely on swimming, you really saw the improvement."
Hoffman shaved five seconds off his breaststroke time this season, swimming the race in 1 minute, 5.47 seconds at the state meet. His individual medley improvement was even better. Hoffman's time of 2:11.05 at state's was nine seconds better than his sophomore finish.
Johnston and Tim Lecrone, Hoffman's coach with the YMCA Dolphins, feel the breaststroke is Hoffman's best event.
"It came pretty naturally to me," Hoffman said.
"He has good mechanics in the breaststroke," Johnston said. "He has very quick reflexes. That helps him out as a sprinter . . . He would have qualified (for states) in any event. He has no weak event."
At the KVAC meet, Hoffman was seeded second in the 100 breaststroke behind Eric Gaulin of Belfast. Hoffman edged Gaulin, 1:06.79 to 1:06.93.
"We both psyched each other up during the race. I wasn't sure if I'd win, but I wanted to win," Hoffman said.
At states, Hoffman's goal wasn't necessarily to win, but to continue the improvement he'd seen all season.
"My goals were to get my best times. I don't always go in looking for a win," Hoffman said.
Johnston said Hoffman is within one second of the Waterville school record in the individual medley, and within three seconds of the school mark in the 100 breaststroke. Hoffman hopes to shave seconds off his breaststroke time, and get his time down to at least a minute flat next year.
"I'm used to these big meets now, and the less nervous you are, the better you perform," Hoffman said.
Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
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