Pleasant's Dunham, Hollenbaugh set to lead area swimmers into postseason
MARION — As a freshman and sophomore, Pleasant's Ben Dunham was a state swimming qualifier in the most grueling event ― the 500-yard freestyle.
And then as a junior, Dunham had enough. He dried off and didn't come back.
"I was completely out of the pool," he said. "It just wasn’t in my priorities to swim. It’s a big time consumer, swimming club and high school. I decided to work and no swimming. I took the year off and quit entirely."
Being a competitive swimmer takes a lot of effort. Being an elite swimmer is a year-round commitment. Besides swimming for Pleasant, he also competed in club events that traveled the state and region of the country. More so, practice time meant hours driving and swimming daily.
Last year Dunham had enough.
But once a swimmer, always a swimmer. As a senior, he decided to get back in the pool, but under his terms.
"I definitely missed it at some points," he said after winning the 100-yard breaststroke at the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference Swim Championships at Ontario. "I definitely don’t miss it anymore now that I’m halfway through the season."
Dunham is still a top-notch swimmer, despite his one-year sabbatical. He was the only non-Ontario winner at this year's MOAC meet and finished second in the conference in the 200-yard individual medley as well as helping a pair of Pleasant relays.
While he doesn't train like his younger self, he still compares himself to his past accomplishments.
"I do. It’s a positive comparison that I get so close to what I was back then with a tenth of the training. I feel proud about that," he said.
His immediate focus following the league meet was to attack the Pleasant record board and get as many school marks as he can before the season ends. In the postseason, Dunham will compete in the 100 breaststroke and possibly the 100 butterfly.
As a freshman, Dunham was 20th at the Division II boys state meet in the 500 free in 4:56.35. The following year he was 17th in 4:53.23.
He said he felt pressure as a young swimmer in those circumstances. This time he feels better prepared for the high stakes moments.
"The pressure will definitely build this year at the end of the season, but I feel a lot more relaxed. I don’t have to worry about anything, just training when I do train and swimming when I do swim," he said. "I don’t have to figure anything out. I know who I am now. I know what happened sophomore and freshman year, so it’s an easier thing to plan out. I just go out there and swim my hardest."
Another Pleasant senior also knows what lies ahead. Jenna Hollenbaugh is trying to repeat a state berth for the Spartans.
"State was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had in my life," Hollenbaugh said. "The adrenaline and the atmosphere is insane. You are swimming with the best athletes in the state, and it’s so cool to be a part of it. Now I really want it again. Hopefully I can make it back to the finals."
At last year's D-II girls state meet, she clocked a 1:09.66 in the 100 breaststroke to finish 22nd. This season at the MOAC meet in Ontario, she turned in a winning effort of 1:09.9, so she is more than on pace to be swimming her best ever when the postseason gets here Feb. 11 with sectionals and beyond. She could also swim the 200 IM or the 100 butterfly this postseason.
"I rested a little this week and didn’t do a ton of yardage, but I didn’t taper," she said after the league meet. "I’ve really been in the weight room a lot lifting to build up my muscle and get where I want to be. That’s really helped. I haven’t done that until my senior year."
Hollenbaugh showed promise as a freshman, but suffered through a rash of debilitating injuries that curtailed much of her sophomore season. She returned last year and broke through as a state qualifier. Now, she wants more.
"This year my body feels great. Mentally I’m great. I feel ready to have a great end to my senior season honestly," she said.
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Sectional Swim Meets
Division I at Worthington Pools, 400 W. Granville, Road.: Marion Harding girls Feb. 11, 9 a.m.; boys Feb. 11, 3:15 p.m.
Division II at Columbus Academy, 4300 Cherry Bottom Road: Mount Gilead boys, Elgin girls, Pleasant girls, River Valley girls Feb. 11, 9:15 p.m.; Mount Gilead girls, Elgin boys, Pleasant boys, River Valley boys Feb. 11, 3:30 p.m.
Division I District at Ohio State: Feb. 18
Division II District at Ohio State: Feb. 16.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Pleasant's Dunham, Hollenbaugh leading area swimmers into postseason
