Durrant and Thomas swim their best at 3A State

The Worland Warriors swimming and diving team only had two swimmers compete at the 3A State meet in Laramie last weekend, but both swimmers cut time and gave it their all.

Senior Joey Durrant and junior Scott Thomas were the Warriors to compete at the season's culminating event.

Durrant swam the 100-yard backstroke (100-yard backstroke) and 100-yard butterfly (1:08.98) at state and Thomas the 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.83).

"Joey and Scottie both cut time, you can't ask for more than that. They didn't make finals, but like I told them, the swimmers who made finals swim year-round. For the amount of practice they had this year, Joey and Scottie swam pretty good," said WHS boys swimming and diving coach Justin Howe. "That was the first time Scottie swam at state, and I think that got him excited for next year. He's motivated to swim in the summer and get better. That's what it will take for him to push for finals."

In the two weeks of practice leading up to the state meet, Durrant and Thomas spent that time working on the finer details of their race. The two swimmers took what they worked on in practice and brought it to state, helping them cut time in their events.

"They both did excellent with those specific things we worked on during the two weeks before state. Scottie worked on pull-outs and Joey underwaters. Both of them got better with those details at state. That will make you proud as a coach, seeing what they worked on in practice carry to a meet. They both did an excellent job, and their technique was good. I was happy that they swam their races correctly," said Howe.

With this being a rebuilding season for the Warriors, Howe and assistant coach Danielle Warren had to adjust this season as they coached up a young and inexperienced group.

One of those adjustments was using in-season goals to motivate. For Durrant, his goal was not just to make it to State but also to beat his brothers', Gabe and Jacob Durrant, times from when they swam in the Warrior program.

"We were rebuilding this season, and as coaches, we had to look at things differently and find ways to keep the motivation up with different goals. Joey's goal was to beat his brothers' times. He's the first one in his family to qualify for state. He was happy with it, and that's all you can ask for," said Howe.

Next week's edition of the Northern Wyoming News will recap the Warriors swimming and diving season.