Joey Gebhart not only wants to end his career at Boulder City with another team championship, he has his sights set on breaking the 24-year-old state record in the 100-yard backstroke.
Gebhart is a three-time individual state champion and one of the key swimmers for the Eagles, who are aiming at their fourth consecutive state championship and their seventh since 2002.
The Lady Eagles team is looking to repeat as state champions.
“We are looking forward to our biggest dual-meet of the season against Coronado on April 5,” Boulder City coach Sara Carroll said. “We expect to win regionals and state for both boys and girls, but a lot of other swimmers will play a role for us. I am excited about the many new swimmers who will also contribute and hopefully build the team for next year because we will graduate a lot of stellar seniors after this season.
“So far the leadership seems pretty good and also the team spirit is way up.
“Joey is confident, and he doesn’t get rattled easily so he doesn’t fold under pressure,” Carroll said. “When the chips are down, he comes through for you. He’s a great competitor.”
Gebhart won the Class 4A state title in the 100 backstroke as a sophomore and last season won the 100 freestyle and the 100 backstroke at the Division I-A swim meet. He also set a school record in winning the 100 backstroke at the Division I-A Southern Region meet.
His time of 50.74 seconds was the second best in state history. Now, Gebhart aims for a lower time. The state record in the 100-yard backstroke is 49.94 and it was set by Spark’s Brian Retterer in 1990.
“Beating the state record in the 100 back is a high priority,” Gebhart said.
But there are more feats within his vision.
Gebhart also is hoping to shatter the 50-second barrier and possibly even challenge the state record in the 100 butterfly — set by Coronado’s Jake Luna at 48.72 in 2012.
“I’m going to try for both records, depending on what coach Carroll wants me to do,” Gebhart said.
Gebhart, who said he will attend the Air Force Academy, is a team captain and one of a few key returners for the Eagles, who are expected to dominate Division I-A.
Season’s first win
Boulder City won its first dual meet of the season against Tech at the Henderson Multigenerational Outdoor Competition Pool March 22 as Sam Sauerbrei and Adam Peterson each won two events. Sauerbrei won the 200 individual medley in 2 minutes, 1.06 seconds and the 500 freestyle in 5:00.02. Peterson won the 200 freestyle in 1:53.44 and the 100 butterfly in 57.45.
Boulder City also returns national-caliber swimmer Jared Smith, a University of Denver signee who won I-A state titles in the 200 and 500 freestyle, and state finalists Evan Klouse, Peterson and Sauerbrei.
The girls team returns key swimmers in sisters Natalie and Rachael Grothe, and Alex Hubel, Aubrey Klouse, Becca Lelles, Cori Molisee and Jessica Purdy.
“We have 25 swimmers on each roster and I am also expecting a lot from Jason Lyon, Joren Selinger, Erin Warshefski, Mckenzie Cummings, Nick Walker, Nick Lara, Montana Lloyd, Mandy Gebhart and Abby Sauerbrei,” Carroll said. “I know that’s a lot of names, but these kids are very talented and I am counting on them.”