NRHS’ drive in the pool grows

The pool climate has definitely changed for Nansemond River High School.

The school’s swimming teams are off to strong starts this season; the boys’ team currently holds a 5-1 record, while the girls’ are at 4-2.

“That’s actually what I expected at this point in the season,” NR coach Shamus Riley said, who noted his swimmers are coming on strong.

“Throughout the years, it’s become more apparent, but this year you can tell that the kids want it more,” he said.

Riley said this could be traced back to how both the boys’ and the girls’ teams won the Ironclad Conference championships last season and both finished fourth at the regional meet.

“And then seeing Logan Eubanks win the state championship, they realized that Nansemond River’s swim team is actually on the map,” Riley said. “The boys thought it was pretty exciting to see that the team was pre-season ranked this year, as well.”

The coach has high hopes for how this season will conclude.

“I do expect both teams to take the conference again,” he said, and at regionals, “anything in the top three would be nice for us.”

Greatly benefitting the 2014-15 Warriors is Eubanks, a junior, who won the 100-yard backstroke last year to become the first state-champion swimmer in the history of Suffolk’s public schools.

He has already qualified for state competition in the 100 back this season, as well.

Nansemond River returns most of its key contributors from last season, with the exception of state qualifier Jacob Hopple, who graduated.

Other state qualifiers who are back include seniors Cody Edwards and Michael Betts, leading a sizable group of upperclassmen.

The boys’ 200-meter medley relay has qualified for states, and it features Betts, Edwards, Eubanks and senior Donte Cartagena.

Cartagena has begun to shine in individual events, as well, like the 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke.

“With Dante improving so much, I see him going on to state this year,” Riley said.

Helping bolster Riley’s expectations for the team this year are a couple of key freshmen.

One is Clay Bennett, who Riley said “actually met our expectations and beyond so far in the pool.”

“Clay actually came last year and as an eighth-grader practiced with the team,” the coach continued. Currently, “he actually does an extra hour to hour and a half workout without the team.”

His main event is the 400-meter freestyle.

Bennett does not have any state qualifications yet, but Riley expects him to qualify by his placement at regionals, where the top 10 swimmers in an event move on to states.

The other freshman helping Nansemond River this year is Brandon Eubanks, Logan’s younger brother.

“He’s not quite as fast as his brother yet, but he is a great advantage or add-on to the team just for the fact that he knows all the strokes,” which means he can be counted on to get points for the team in a variety of different events, depending on where they need him, Riley said.

Brandon Eubanks’ specialties are the 100 fly and the 400 freestyle.

Nansemond River has three regular season meets remaining. The next is Saturday against Hickory High School at the Great Bridge Swim and Racquet Club.