Kolonko Going to States, Looks to Make Improvements

Not many Weedsport swimmers or divers have made it to the New York State Swim Meet, let alone in back-to-back years. While many swimmers have gone to Sectionals, and less have gone to the State Qualifier meet, only one person in the last couple years has gone all the way for Weedsport, and that’s sophomore, Macauley Kolonko.

Kolonko participated at the state meet last year at Ithaca College in the 500 Yard Freestyle. However, he qualified in a way that he didn’t enjoy.

“Last year, I was going in there with the expectation that I was going to get last,” said Kolonko. “So I was just going for experience, but this year I thought different.” He only made states because he won the event at State Qualifiers last year by only a couple seconds. However, to some swimmers, that is considered the “worst way” to make it states.

However, Kolonko entered this season with a different mindset, and at a different pace, despite being at Skaneateles most of the year while the pool was under reconstruction.

“Mac didn’t do a spring sport, decided to dedicate himself all summer long to swimming, and he swam some big meets for USA swimming over the summer, getting himself ready for the season, focusing on the season,” said Weedsport head coach, Ed Beck, who is currently working with Kolonko. “So when he came into the season in November, he was in shape, he was ready to go, and he was going 1:52 [or] 1:51 in his 200 free, not close to what he did at sectionals, and at state qualifiers, but he laid the groundwork during the offseason to really be ready.”

While everyone was getting into the groove of the swim season, Kolonko was in midseason form in November. As the swim meets went on, his times only got him closer to that state cut time.

“It was really stressful, because I knew I had that expectation that I was going to states,” said Kolonko. “As the year went on, I got more and more stressed out…when I finally did it, it was just a big relief.”

After the final meet of the year, Kolonko wasn’t sure of what he was going to do – either keep the yardage up, or taper with the rest of the team.

“It was really just a feel, because I knew I wanted to go to states and that was the goal,” said Kolonko. “So we really decided…we weren’t going to do a complete rest.”

After sectional practices geared up, as well as a relaxing taper came into play, Kolonko was geared up to swim fast at Sectionals at Nottingham High School. He was seeded first in the 200 Free, and the 500 Free. He knew what he had to do.

“Right before sectionals, we focused on just being comfortable, being ready to swim fast. At that point we put all the work in, we’d done all the yards; it was just all about feel for the water, comfort for the water. We did do a lot of race pace sets, feeling what it was like to swim, how fast he wanted to go at sectionals, we knew what he needed to go in each of his splits to get what he wanted,” said Beck. “The qualifying time was 1:47.7, we knew where he should be, what he should be doing in different spots, and so I knew when he did that third 50 and came out in a 27, I knew we were good…”

After Kolonko swam the 200 Medley Relay, he immediately went to warm-down, and get ready for the 200 Free.

“I just tried to get into my place, I knew everyone around me was going to go out quickly,” said Kolonko, “I was just trying to stay with them, I wasn’t aggressive enough. During the race, I knew I had to keep where I was to just win.

“I felt like I could’ve done a little better at the state qualifier meet…so I think I could’ve tried to swim that a little faster.”

After the excitement was over, and the realization that he made the state cut, Kolonko went to warm-down once again, and settle down a little bit before his next event – the 500 Free, in which he qualified last year.

“After I think I made states at sectionals [in the 200], I was on a little bit of a high there,” said Kolonko. “It helped me get to where I got at during the 500.”

While he did get first in sectionals, he missed the state cut by a small margin, but still had the chance to qualify at the State Qualifier meet the next day.

“We had a great race in the 200 free, it was just, all the pressure was off after that point. It was just about having fun at that point, and as soon as it was done, the reaction was, ‘alright, on to the next meet,’” said Beck. He returned with three other swimmers the next day.

After a long swim meet, and an evening of rest, Kolonko came back to Nottingham to seal the deal for the 200 Free, and tried to push the 500 Free. While he swam the 200 about the same time, he won State Qualifiers as well, and now looked forward to the state meet. Kolonko was also focussed on the 500 Free, where he was seeded second, behind club-teammate, Jake Whiting of Auburn. Kolonko kept up with Whiting for the first half of the race, but Whiting was able to come out victorious, while Kolonko came in second – just behind the state cut.

“Nothing mattered after the 200 free, we were in after the 200 free. There was no disappointment in the 500. Tt was a great season, he had a great race. He went a 4:57, he was about two seconds off of his best time. I wish he could’ve gotten that; his best time is a 4:55.6, and I know that by heart because, that is .1 off of the Weedsport record, and I’d really like to see him get that record,” said Beck. “But, they were good swims, they were quality swims, and even more than the result, I watched how it happened, he had a great start, walls were good, and his pace was a good tempo throughout the race. It was all I could ask for.”

While disappointed he didn’t make it in the 500, he was still looking forward to the 200 at the state meet.

“We spent a lot of time at the pool over February break. Our goal was to get about 11,000 yards in a day over the break, and we did that broken up into two practices, morning and an evening,” said Beck. “It was a lot of hard work, and he was really, really beat down by that week’s practice – but it was what he needed.”

“Training, lot’s of training, just pain. It’s a great experience,” said Kolonko. “Over winter break, we did doubles, that week itself was the best week of training that I’ve ever had in my life…I’m really excited…I think I can swim really fast.”

Kolonko goes to the state meet on March 4 and 5, but he still has one more goal – make it to the finals day, and not just the preliminaries.

“To obviously get my best time, said Kolonko, talking about his state goals. “Second of all, I would like to make it back to the second day of competition…my most out-there goal is to get the school record in the 200.” The record is a 1:44.9, according to Kolonko.

The state meet is coming closer and closer by the day, and Beck couldn’t be prouder of his swimmer.

For how proud Beck was of his swimmer, he had an interesting comment, “I’ll let you know after the 200 free at states.”
Kolonko looks to have a great meet, and looks to train even harder during the offseason and go even further, and get even faster than he was already this year. A great Weedsport swimmer, and who knows where he will go next.