Griffin Westervelt raked in the hardware for the Iola Seahorses this summer.
At last weekend’s SEK League meet, the 16-year-old medaled in each of his seven races, including first place in the 50-yard freestyle, second in the 50-yard butterfly and third in the 100-yard freestyle.
Even after suffering an injury before the season began, Westervelt started out the season on a high note in Chanute by taking down the top swimmer in the league to earn first place finish in the 50-yard freestyle.
“I realized in Chanute that this year was going to be nothing like last year,” said Westervelt. “I knew I was a lot stronger so my pulls were helped a lot more, especially in the freestyle and breaststroke.”
The freestyle stroke has become Westervelt’s strongest. He’s also improved a lot in the butterfly this summer.
“That’s really all I cared about, getting first place in freestyle,” said Westervelt. “I like individual sports because it depends on how well I do, not on others.”
Westervelt said his improved times and personal-records spike his confidence in the pool. The Iolan is planning to join a club swim team in Lawrence in the offseason from September through February to improve his skills.
Westervelt said he uses singing his favorite songs before and during races to help ease the pressure of competition.
This especially helped out at the SEK League meet where the intensity was cranked up all the higher.
Westervelt said he uses the season-ending league meet to measure his improvement over the season.
“It’s fun to see how far I’ve come. It also helped that I’m in the middle of the 15-18 year old age,” he said.
Westervelt didn’t seem to be fazed by the bigger meet.
“The league meet is so different because there’s more people there and everyone is the best they’re going to be during the season so they’re going to try their hardest.”
Westervelt said he enjoys helping the younger kids grow into better swimmers and that teaching different strokes can help him become a better swimmer in the process.
“Last year I helped the little kids to go across the pool if they needed somebody to help them,” Westervelt said. “The age group below mine will take time out of their day to practice with us and it helps to motivate and cheer them on.”
