Junior, Trayton White (The sequel to last week’s post)

KD: So, here is your chance to dish the dirt on Mr. John Kasey. But first, what was your initial reaction to our conversation last week?

TW: I laughed…especially about the part where he said I was ‘as harmless as a little girl,’ and the brail picture.

KD: Do you wish to defend yourself at all?

TW: (Laughing) Kasey and I have thrown down a couple of times, and lets just say I’ve left him with a black eye…or two.

KD: Looking back on the times you’ve shared with the infamous John Kasey, what would you say are some of your more memorable moments?

TW: Well…1st, our freshman year at swimming Ranger Day, we came in third place in the canoe race even though I dropped the paddle, 2nd, all the times I have tried to convince him that Saturday practices are not optional, 3rd, staying at his house over Christmas break my freshman year, 4th, helping him beat Doom (computer game) over Thanksgiving Break last year, 5th, hearing him talk about his girlfriend all the time, and finally, his “Lover” shirt.

KD: Can you elaborate on this shirt of his…sounds interesting?

TW: He has this bright pink shirt that has “lover” and “fighter” with boxes next to each, and the “lover” box is checked.

KD: So he protests to be a lover, not a fighter?

TW: Yeah.

KD: Have you ever refused to be around him when he chooses to wear this shirt?

TW: (Laughing) No.

KD: Ok, based on such memories, if you were to summarize John in five words, what would they be and why—whatever comes to mind first.

TW: Confused, hardworking, outdoorsy, a ‘Friends’ addict, and big spender.

KD: Why do say he is confused?

TW: He switched majors like four times. He wanted to be a surgeon and then an econ major, and now he just reads books all day.

KD: So he is an English major?

TW: Some people call it that.

KD: What do you call it?

TW: (Laughing) Reading for dummies.

KD: Nice.

KD: When you say John is a ‘big spender,’ do you say that with some kind of sarcasm or are you serious in saying he likes to do it up right?

TW: I just said that because he buys all sorts of expensive things all the time.

KD: What types of things has he splurged on lately?

TW: Climbing gear, like mountain climbing gear.

KD: Would you say he spends his money wisely?

TW: No.

KD: Why’s that?

TW: (Laughing) Because when he falls off that mountain and dies, I don’t think they accept returns.

KD: What do you think John should spend his money on then?

TW: Hmmm. I’ve never actually thought about that. His girlfriend(s) maybe?

KD: …and by plural you mean strictly whomever he is dating at the time as opposed to spilling the beans that he dates multiple ladies at once.

TW: (Laughing) Yes.

KD: What is it that makes your friendship with Mr. Kasey so unique?

TW: Not a day goes by where we don’t express our hatred for each other—in a good way.

KD: Do you find that such “hostility” carries over to the pool?

TW: It’s not so much a hostility, but a competitive attitude. We’re always racing each other in the water.

KD: If John Kasey were not a part of your Wabash experience, how would it be different?

TW: I probably would not be on the swim team, and I would have never tasted the wonders of Mrs. Kasey’s banana bread.

Posted by Peter Casares at 03:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Junior, John Kasey on teammate, and best friend, Trayton White (Junior)

- By Kyle Dunaway

KD: When you think of Trayton, what are some of the things that come to mind?

JK: Jesus Christ, Jimmy Hoffa, Handicap Parking, Honk if you’re deaf!, Jokes that are not funny, and Albert Einstein.

KD: Ok, lets pick these off one by one… Jimmy Hoffa ??

JK: Trayton’s Dad is a Transportation Engineer, Trayton has been known to wear teamster gear and to make not so idol threats that he knows where Jimmy Hoffa is buried. He has no problem helping you join him (Hoffa).

KD: Why don’t you believe him?

JK: Umm, because the only thing Trayton knows are verses out of the Bible and Chemistry equations. He is about as harmless as a little girl.

KD: Enough said.

KD: Now, for that, “Honk if you’re deaf!” statement.

JK: My first memory of Trayton was when we were pledge brothers, and I hadn’t really even met him yet. I remember walking into the cold dorm and a group of people was standing around starring at one end of the cold dorm where Trayton’s bed happened to be.

KD: Ok…

JK: Above his bed was a bumper sticker on the wall that said “Honk if you’re deaf!,” and all I knew about Trayton at the time was that he was hearing impaired. We were all worried that whomever had put the sticker there had gone too far. Next thing you know, Trayton walks into the room and everyone was silent. He walked up to his bunk, and began laughing in his ridiculous, obnoxious laugh (that he maintains he only laughs that way because he cannot hear himself). Since then, I have made it a college quest of mine to see how much I can insult Trayton until I piss him off.

KD: So, have you been close to being successful in your quest?

JK: On quite a few occasions…I don’t want to brag.

KD: Albert Einstein… explain that one.

JK: Trayton is the academic poster-boy for the college. He is really very smart and totally insane.

KD: How so?

JK: At one time, he was a Bio/Chem double major and still had great grades.

KD: Have you ever taken advantage of his intelligence or learned any valuable academic lessons from Trayton?

JK: Trayton pretty much single-handedly got me through Calculus, so yes. That, and he is good to have around at dinner when you are figuring out a tip.

KD: What has made your friendship so great over these past few years?

JK: I would like to think that what keeps us close is Trayton borrowing my dress clothes. He doesn’t know how to tie a tie yet, so I guess he still needs me. Up until this year, we were the only two swimmers in the Fiji house and I guess we kind of got to know each other through the sport.

KD: Does having your best friend on the team help you fight through any adversity you might face throughout the season?

JK: Uh, I guess it could help. We mostly wake each other up in the morning and make jabs at each other’s character on a regular basis. When it comes to swimming though, Trayton and I both know the only reason we are still around is because we can both tell stories about how it used to be. These freshmen are way too fast!

Stay tuned for Trayton White on John Kasey next week!!

(Top Photo: From Left to Right: John Kasey and Trayton White relax during "Swimming Ranger Day")

Posted by Peter Casares at 01:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

As the team began week four of the season, and started to show some gains in both strength and endurance, I felt it was the perfect time to start addressing stroke technique, nutrition, and some of the "truths" of swimming. So, this past Sunday and Monday we held our First Annual Wabash Swimming Conference... and who better to have headline than Dr. Dave Tanner.

Dr. Tanner earned his PhD in Human Performance (exercise physiology) from Indiana University. He is the author of Swimming Past 50, contributes to the Journal of Swimming Research, and has presented at swim clinics in the US and Europe. He swam for Indiana University under Doc Counsilman, served as Doc’s assistant coach, and has over 40 years of swimming and coaching experience.

Not only is Dave well schooled and experienced, but he is an active masters swimmer and triathlete - and is a former world champion and record holder in the 200 LCM butterfly! He has also completed numerous ultra-endurance swim, run, bike, and triathlon events including the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, the Hawaii Ironman (4 times), the Race Across America (RAAM), the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, and the American Birkebeiner cross-country ski race.

Currently, Dave is a research scientist for the Counsilman Center for the Science of Swimming at Indiana University and is the boy’s swim coach at Bloomington High School North. As you can imagine, we were excited to have him on campus talking shop and helping us improve as both individuals, and a team! As you will see in the pictures, the team had a chance to not only learn from Dave, but actually improve immediately through his one on one instruction, demonstrations, and stroke knowledge.

Dave, we are a better team because you were here. I can't thank you enough.

- Coach

Posted by Peter Casares at 08:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Swim Team competed in it's 7th Semi-Annual Sprint Triathlon this past weekend. This was by far our most competitive triathlon to date with 28 guys successfully completing it, and three of them breaking the previous record! For the first time ever, a freshman walked away with the victory, and as I stated earlier, in record time! Elijah Sanders completed the 1000 yard swim in 12 minutes and 45 seconds, then rode his bike 15 miles in 45 minute and 35 seconds, and finished up with a 3 mile run in 23 minutes and 18 seconds! His total time was 1 hour 20 minutes and 38 seconds...

That's real fast.

Congrats to all that competed... it was a great Saturday morning workout!

- Coach

(photos: Team jumping in for the start, defending champion John Kasey getting on his bike, and Trayton White sprinting to the finish!)

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