SWIMMING & DIVING: Kingsburg’s Huckabay sprints in the direction of wonderful finish

REEDLEY  – Kingsburg’s Lukas Huckabay, who’s as soon as once more splashed his solution to the highest of the Central Section’s elite aquatic athletes, is making ready to make that ultimate push to cap off a celebrated and historic profession within the pool.

Calm, locked in and able to go, Huckabay gathered with the remainder of his Vikings’ teammates on the Reedley Aquatics Complex on April 22 for his or her most up-to-date Tri-County Conference meet in opposition to Reedley and Selma High’s swim groups. Huckabay concluded his traditional pre-match warm-ups, prepared to make use of this meet because the potential measuring rod for the rest of the season. 

“Leading up to this, the training has been really tough, so I’m really fatigued right now with the way it’s been,” mentioned Huckabay. “I’ve been spending a lot of time getting stronger outside the pool, and then just really focusing – as we get closer to those big meets – on those little things, my starts, turns, just things that make me fast.”

Currently ranked No. 2 within the Section, and twentieth general within the State by Swimcloud.com, Huckabay’s starvation to proceed successful is fed by final season’s success. Huckabay snagged the Central Section D-I Title final season within the 100-yard breast stroke (54.53) and certified as a CIF State finalist (55.72) in the identical occasion. 

With this season’s Section and State Swim and Dive Championships simply across the nook, Huckabay isn’t taking something without any consideration. The University of Arizona commit is doing what he can to seize that one, final elusive award earlier than he hangs up the towel. 

“Coming off last year’s CIF State meet, I was a little disappointed. I got the same place I did my sophomore year, even though I went substantially faster,” mentioned Huckabay. “I don’t want to overlook the Section meet, but my goal is for State this year. I want to shoot for a State title.”

Last season, Huckabay completed because the top-ranked swimmer within the Section, and 14th general within the State, in response to info discovered on Swimcloud.com. 

Staying in his lane

Huckabay’s elegant pace within the water comes from pure energy. It’s a trait that he considers his strongest ability and Huckabay is doing what he can to maintain the vitality flowing. 

“I think I’ve always been more of a power based swimmer, so (I’m) doing more resistance work and doing more power stuff in the pool with pulleys, resistance behind me,” mentioned Huckabay. “Just being powerful has always been my main thing.”

That energy within the pool has propelled Huckabay again to the highest of the Central Section’s swim leaderboards this season. Some of Huckabay’s most spectacular performances embody a first-place end within the 200 medley relay breast (24.66) on the Clovis West Invitational on April 10, and second-place finishes within the 50 and 100-yard breast on the Speedo Sectionals in Oceanside, Calif. on Feb. 26.

And with further preparation, and a few minor tweaks in his conditioning, Huckabay believes he might lastly recover from that proverbial hump, on his solution to being the primary swimmer to the touch the wall at state. 

“Last year, I was definitely doing more yardage, breaststroke yardage; this year, especially these last two months, I’ve been doing less yardage, more intentional work, just stuff to help prepare me for the 100 breasts (strokes),” Huckabay mentioned. I’m simply coaching for the 150, in order that’s sort of what I’ve been specializing in.”

While Huckabay has aspirations of standing proud on the very best podium, he hopes his legacy of exhausting work and perseverance will finally be his most vital legacy. 

“I just want to leave a legacy beyond myself, not just with what I’m swimming in my times, but just who I was as a person, just trying to be positive,” mentioned Huckabay. “I want to do the best I can, prepare myself the best I can.”