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Show J. R. Has Goal To Take Siaie i i , J R. BROWN By DAVK VVKiHAM BOUNTIFUL At any other hih school, J R. Brown woukl be the best sprinter on the swimming team. At Bountiful Boun-tiful High though, he's the second, hut J.R. wouldn't want it any other way. "HAVING CRAK; Quinn at practice each day really pushes nie to improve. If we didn't work out together I don't think I'd try as hard as I do. It's my goal to beat him this year and he knows it," Brown said. The two swimmers are good friends out of the pool and even during workouts the two help each other. "He's helped me a lot. Plus, our workouts are so competitive both of us benefit from it." J.R. say's. IT'S NOT that J.R. is completely com-pletely overlooked by other schools they all know the Braves have two top sprinters. Last year as a junior J.R. placed second in the state meet, behind Craig, in the 100 yard freestyle race and then third in the 50-yard freeMyle. At the region meet he took second in both splints. Guess who won them'.' AS A sophomore a couple of years ago J.R. broke into the sw imming scene with a splash. He had never swam competitively competi-tively before his sophomore year. "1 had been swimming before, but never got serious about it." The reason he went out for the sport w as his older brother Craig. "He was a senior sw im-mer im-mer for W oods Cross and he looked like he enjoyed the sport so I went out for the team at Bountiful High that year." HIS COACH quickly noticed that this six footer had w hat it takes to become a great sprinter. "1 just showed upand started swimming. 1 had no idea what event to go for but coach soon said to go for the sprints. After a couple of months of workouts I started to improve and place high in the meets," he confessed. To be a good sprinter one has to have endurance and make no mistakes. Everything happens so fast, especially in the 50- ard dash, that even the slightest mistake can cost someone the race. "1 hold my breath all the way down the pool the first time and through the flip turn. Then on the way-back way-back I take a couple of breaths. I just watch the bottom of the pool and follow the black line to stay straight." he admitted. THE DIVE is also important and J.R. admits that his isn't the best around and that he works hard on it during workouts. work-outs. He does swim for the local AAU team but only during the summer months. "There just isn't enough time when the school season starts," he commented. com-mented. THE REGION meet is just around the corner and despite having some top individuals he sees it as an uphill battle for the Braves to win. "We just don't have the depth that other schools like Woods Cross have. When we went head to head with them we won eight of the 1 1 events but they won the dual meet because of their depth. We could win the region but it'll be tough for us." J.R. adds. J.R. has his reasons for the lack of depth on the Bountiful side. "I honestly believe that swimming is the most physically physic-ally demanding sport around and that scares off some people. peo-ple. Phis, the early morning and hard workouts scare others off." he said. As for state, J.R. hopes the Braves can place one-two in the sprints again. This time with him being number one. The state releases the top times in each event and currently cur-rently J.R. has the fourth fastest fas-test time in the state. He said, "Those times really don't count though, when the final gun goes up anyone in the final race can w in. Last year there was less than one-tenth of a second separating the top five swimmers." As for his goal of beating his teammate J.R. Brown indicates indi-cates he would love to win on both events. "I probably have a better chance of beating Craig in the 50 yard race. He's good at that race but of the two that's probably his weakest," he added. THE PERSON that just sits back and watches these two battle each other is the coach of the Braves. Jack Senninger. No matter what happens between be-tween the two he knows his club will be near the top with them swimming for Bountiful High. When not in the pool J.R. likes to hunt and ski. although he won't ski until after the state meet. He enjoys swimming swim-ming nght now but has no real desire to swim on a college level. J.R. BROWN is a determined deter-mined young man. He's also very gifted. Not many can start a sport in their sophomore year and w hen a senior be a top contender con-tender for a state title. |