Waldron puts down a time others can’t catch
Rebel junior wins SC 200 freestyle
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Tucker Waldron was swimming’s Rodney Dangerfield for 1:46.6.That’s the time it took the Howell High School junior to win the Shore Conference 200-yard freestyle championship on Feb. 4 at the Ocean County, and finally get the respect he felt he was lacking.

Despite having won the Monmouth County Championship back in January, Waldron found himself left out of the top seeded section at the conference meet (somehow the officials had used his dual meet time of 1:55 and not, his 1:47.1 at the county championships). The lack of respect didn’t sit that well with him.

“It annoyed me,” he said. “Not being seeded kind of threw me off. I tried not to let it bother me.”

Advice from Howell coach Robin Stoher helped Waldron put the slight behind him. She pointed to the advantages he’d have not swimming in the top-seeded section.

“She told me that I would have open, calm water to swim in,” he pointed out.

That would allow Waldron to put down a fast time that would be difficult for those in the top-seeded section to match.

Waldron still had to beware of not letting his emotions get the best of him. He had to avoid the urge of jumping into the water like a speedboat and pushing too hard over the first 100 meters, finding himself with nothing left over the second half of the race.

“I tried not to go out too fast,” he said. “On the third 50, I went all out, and tried to bring it home over the last 50.”

When Waldron touched the wall first he looked up at the clock to see if he had indeed accomplished his goal of putting up a fast time and personal best.

“When I saw 1:46.6, I was so excited,” he added. “It was an awesome feeling.”

Waldron’s personal best time was uncatchable. Shore Regional’s Andrew Dennis was the runner-up, finishing more than a second behind the Rebel with his 1:47.86.

Unlike the county championships where Waldron was listed as Tucker, the conference officials got his last name correct this time — a little signal that he is gaining respect.

Waldron came back to swim the 500 freestyle and placed fourth (5:01.6) behind Dennis (4:51.22).

Waldron had competed individually in the county and conference championships his freshman and sophomore year, but, this year he was part of Howell’s first-ever swim team.

“Having a team is really nice,” he said. “It [the season] has been awesome. A lot of kids have taken to it.”

Waldron knows what his conference and county championships mean to a first-year program.

“It gives us a head start,” he said. “It puts us on the board. Teams will take us more seriously.”

The 20 points earned by Waldron helped Howell finish 19th in the team standings. Freehold Township (56) was in 15th place.

Waldron did have one thing going for him at the conference championships, he was swimming in his home pool. He competes for the Ocean County YMCA, which uses the Toms River facilities. Like all high school swimmers, Tucker is nothing if not dedicated. During the season there were days when he was in Toms River for a 5 a.m. practice. Then it was off to school.

After school there was either a practice at the YMCA of Western Monmouth County in Freehold Township or a school meet. After all that, Waldron’s day wasn’t complete. There was an evening practice still to come in Toms River.

Waldron’s season is far from over. He has qualified in both the 200 and 500 free events for the NJSIAA Championships coming up March 5-6 in Gloucester. The meet is over two days with preliminaries on Saturday determining the 16 swimmers who will compete the next day for state titles. His goals is to get to the final 16 in both races.

The weekend following the NJSIAA championships, Waldron will be swimming for the Ocean County YMCA at the Y state championships in Princeton.