For elite prep swimmers, rarely does their association with the sport begin only once they join their respective high school’s team. The overwhelming majority have already been seasoned by years of club swimming before they even reach adolescence. That’s not the case for one of the top male swimmers in Hernando County, Springstead senior Trey Patterson, a state qualifier a year ago.
Going back to middle school, Patterson had been encouraged to get involved in a sport. He just couldn’t seem to find one that fit, until his freshman year when someone mentioned swimming. “I was like, ‘Eh, it’s questionable.’ But my mom was like, ‘You need an outlet. You should try it.’ So I tried it and fell in love with it,” Patterson said. “It’s stressful. They (more experienced swimmers) have the advantage of knowing their stroke. They have all that experience of working on walls. Constantly working on dives, all the little techniques. For me, I just kind of have to compensate for it, just work my hardest, and it’s been working for me so far.”
It certainly did last season. After finishing first in the district and fourth in the region, Patterson earned an at-large state berth in the 50-yard freestyle. In the Class 2A FHSAA Finals, he placed 22nd with a time of 23.24. He had swam his season best at regionals, a 23.05, but that still put him on the bubble of advancing. Swimmers that don’t earn automatic state berths are forced to wait until all regional meets are completed to find out if they moved on.
“It was so stressful, that whole time of ‘Did I make it? Did I make it? Did I make it?’ I kept pestering Coach (Wayne Withington),” Patterson said. “Then he finally said, ‘You made it,’ and I just was in awe. I was like, ‘Wow.’ Three years and this is what happens when you work hard, and it felt so nice.”
Once he got to states, he found a whole different atmosphere. “I got some good experience out of it. I know what to expect, I know the adrenaline. So this year I’m hoping it’ll show,” Patterson said. “Get there again and come in with a different face. Last year, just the stress and the awe factor really affected my swim. This year I’m going in headstrong and hoping that I can show them what I really can do and make a point that I can swim, and that’s just what I love to do.”
Through the first five meets of the season, Patterson had won all but one individual race. He’s unbeaten in the 50 free, with his fastest time coming off blocks in a Sept. 23 meet against River Ridge, a 22.89. In that same meet, he posted his best showing in the 100 free, 53.05. He has competed in the 100 butterfly twice, with a best of 1:05.15. He’s attempting to become a three-time regional qualifier in both the 50 and 100 free.
“He’s having a real good season,” Withington said. “He’s working hard. He’s got some goals. He’s focused, and I’m helping him to achieve his goals. If he continues to work as hard as he has been, we’ll get there. We’ll get to states again and hopefully he’ll place a lot higher than he did last year. “He’s taken to freestyle really well, and he’s got a great work ethic. He knows what he wants, he goes for it.”
Freestyle is something Patterson said he just has a knack for, and he has continued to refine his stroke swimming year-round. With only a few meets left in his prep career, he said he’d like go out with a bang. “I’m known on my team for making ridiculous goals,” Patterson said. “I’m hoping to be higher than the half up there (at states), but it’s unknown. I just want to do my best. That’s what I’m hoping for.”