By Michael Kinney
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Westmoore's Dakota Wheeler burst onto the scene last year at this time when he racked up a bundle of conference and state titles. Since then he has become an All-American and accepted a scholarship to a D-I university.
But that hasn't tempered Wheeler's hunger to win. He was back at the 50th Annual Mid-State Conference swim meet Saturday once again winning titles and staying on pace to add two more state championships to his resume. Wheeler won both the 100-butterfly and 100-backstroke, despite not being at his best.
"I did OK for not shaving and not tapering," Wheeler said. "At conference I am just trying to go my hardest and see what happens. And how Close I can get to my best times."
Wheeler was two seconds off his best time in the butterfly and three seconds away in the backstroke. He said that gives him ammunition to prepare for the state meet next week.
"It makes we want to work harder than I have been," Wheeler said. "Even though we only have two weeks left, I am still going to go hard since this is my last one. Everyone is going to be gunning for me. I have to man up and try to hold it."
While Wheeler was a double winner, his Jaguars weren't as successful. Norman North tallied 428 points and held off rival Norman to take their second consecutive title. The Tigers fell to second with 403. Edmond Memorial (330), Moore (212) and Westmoore (199) rounded out the top five.
Southmoore, which had 106 points were led by Paul Le. The junior held off North's Wilson Wei in a tightly contested 100-backstroke.
"I know Paul Le from Southmoore in the 100-backstroke is going to be tough," Wei said. "He is the most talented swimmer I have ever competed against. I am looking forward to it."
Le also set a new conference record in the 100-freestyle. His time of 46.86 shaved more than a second of the old record, which wash held by Westmoore's Robert Whittle.
On the girls side, it was Edmond (511) who walked away with the conference title. They held off Norman (338) by almost 200 hundred points. North (278) took third while Westmoore (189), Moore (186) and Southmoore (125) trailed.
Southmoore freshman Alex Ballard won her first conference title when she upset Norman's Jacque Medina in the 200-freestyle. Medina came back to beat Ballard in the 500-free.
Westmoore's Kimmie Reneau also had a big day. The sophomore won the 50-free and the 100-backstroke.
The state meet is scheduled for Feb. 19-20 at the OCCC. The conference meet was the last opportunity swimmers could qualify for state.
"I am very proud of our swim teams this year," said Rhonda Nelson, who coaches Moore and Southmoore. "They have worked very hard and made a lot of progress. There are many swimmers that have just started swimming this year, they have also made progress and learned a lot."
