Seymour’s Paul Montgomery reacts after winning the 100 freestyle during his junior year at sectional. Last week, Montgomery set the school record in the 100 free with a time of 47.26.
Tribune file photo
Seymour senior Paul Montgomery discovered his events last season, and he stuck with it.
As a junior, Montgomery qualified for the IHSAA state finals in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay.
When his senior swimming season began Nov. 22 this past winter, he wasn’t going to change up any of his events.
“I discovered my events last season, and I’m sticking with it,” he said.
In his first race, Montgomery swam faster times than he did prior to sectional during his junior year. So he was already off to a better start than a year ago, and that paid off a couple of months later when Montgomery performed at the sectional last week at Highland Hills Middle School.
Montgomery became the sectional champion in the 50 free in 21.23, and then he swam a school-record time of 47.26 in the 100 free. Both times were good enough to send him back to the state finals this week.
This is Montgomery’s third overall trip to the state finals in his career, and he’s looking to make the most of his last trip to the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.
In tonight’s preliminaries in the 50 free, Montgomery will compete in heat three of four and will race in lane two. In the 100 free, he is in heat one of four and will race in lane one.
Montgomery is seeded with the 14th fastest time in the 50 and 21st fastest time in the 100. If he swims to his seed in the 50 free, that will advance him to Saturday with a chance to race for state championship honors by placing in the top eight.
The top 16 fastest times in each event today will advance to Saturday. Montgomery has been working on his breathing the most during the 50.
“I’m really excited for this year,” he said. “I need to work on my breathing and maintaining my speed for my breaths. I feel like for the 50, I shouldn’t be breathing at all. Overall, I just need to think less and get in the zone more.”
Montgomery was in the zone last week for the sectional, and he plans to be locked in tonight, as well. Events will begin at 6 p.m.
Seymour diver Kaleb Brown also advanced out of the sectional last week. He competed in the Jasper Diving Regional on Tuesday night.
Brown didn’t finish with a complete score. New Albany’s Colin Kruer won the regional with a score of 467.80.