All-Area Boys Swimming - Laney's Johns takes on any race, any time

Fri. July 01, 2011 at 4:38 p.m. | By Powell Latimer | StarNews Staff Writer

In a sport of specialists, Travis Johns is a jack of all trades.

The Laney sophomore swimmer was just as dominant this year as he was in his freshman campaign. But what put him over the top to repeat as StarNews All-Area boys swimmer of the year was his versatility.

Heading into the 2010-2011 season, Johns felt his worst stroke was the breaststroke. So he made a point to swim it, and with impressive results.

Johns not only won the 100 breaststroke at the Mideastern Conference meet – by a full two seconds – but also swam the breaststroke in Laney's 200 medley relay, which won the MEC and took sixth in the Class 4A state championships.

"He's one of the most well-rounded swimmers I have ever met," Laney coach Emily Lunde said. "He will not say no to an event."

Johns' two conference titles came in events he didn't even swim at the state meet. Instead, he took home two top-five finishes with fourth in the 200 free and fifth in the 100 backstroke.

In a swimming world where many athletes find two events and stick with them, Johns enjoyed the experience of trying just about everything.

"I think it's fun just to get around and swim everything, race different people," Johns said. "I know a lot of people race just two events. It's always fun just to get up and do a little bit different racing than usual."

And his success rate is impressive. This year, he was one of two sophomores in the finals of the 200 freestyle and the only non-senior in the finals of the 100 backstroke. He came up short of an All-America consideration time by one tenth of a second.

And while the 200 freestyle isn't even Johns' second-best event, he chose it after scouting last year's results and identifying what event he could do best.

Lunde said she's been impressed by Johns' maturity and composure in going up against older opponents.

"He's very level-headed," Lunde said. "I've seen a lot of swimmers that psyche themselves out and get frustrated so easily, but Travis doesn't."

That talent has already caught collegiate eyes, and Johns said he wants to take his talents to the next level.

"Finishing in the top five, most of the people that beat me were seniors, and I know one of them is going on a scholarship to Texas," Johns said. "I'm looking forward to next season a lot, definitely should be up there and hopefully will get two championships."

All-Area Boys Swimming

Travis Johns, Laney (POY): Top finishes in the 4A state meet–4th in 200 freestyle, 5th in the 100 backstroke, 6th in the 200 medley relay. Won 200 medley relay, 200 IM, 100 back and 100 breast at the MEC championships.
Patrick Weldon, Hoggard: 4th in 4A state 100 freestyle. Hoggard’s 400 free relay finished seventh in the state. Weldon took 2nd in four 4A East regional: the 200 free, 100 free, 200 free relay and 400 free relay.
Stephen Coetzer, Laney: Third in regionals in 100 backstroke, 3rd in 100 fly and part of 200 medley relay which took sixth at states.
Evan Kauffman, Hoggard: 4th at regionals, 9th at the state meet in the 50 free. Swam on Hoggard’s 7th place 200 free relay.
Justin Schmitz, Topsail: 4th in the 1A/2A regional in 100 fly, 5th in 100 back. Finished 8th at the 1A/2A states in the 100 back and 100 fly in Topsail’s first season of swimming.
Rett Nabell, Hoggard: 5th in 50 freestyle at the regional, 6th in 100 freestyle.
Honorable Mention
Hoggard–Allely Chandler, Zach Hannum, Nathan Johnson, Joseph High. New Hanover–Dylan Blackwell, Adam Hunter. Laney–Christian Caveness, Bryan Caveness, Ben Rachunok Ashley–Devin McDaniel. Cape Fear Academy–Daniel Birmingham, Hagen Deitrich. South Brunswick–Myles Williams.
All-Mideastern Conference
200 Medley Relay: Laney - Stephen Coetzer, Travis Johns, Christian Caveness, Bryan Caveness. 200 Free: Patrick Weldon, Hoggard. 200 IM: Travis Johns, Laney. 50 Free: Evan Kauffman, Hoggard. 100 Fly: Dylan Blackwell, New Hanover. 100 Free: Patrick Weldon, Hoggard. 500 Free: Stephen Coetzer, Laney. 200 Free Relay: Hoggard - Patrick Weldon, Evan Kauffman, Zach Hannum, Rett Nabell. 100 Back: Christian Caveness, Laney. 100 Breaststroke: Travis Johns, Laney. 400 Free Relay: Hoggard - Evan Kauffman, Patrick Weldon, Zach Hannum, Rett Nabell.
Player of the Year: Travis Johns, Laney. Coach of the Year: Emily Lunde, Laney. Sportsmanship: Ashley, Laney.