HIGH-WATER MARKS GALORE
A jump from Class 5A to 6A? It didn’t bother the repeat All-Greater Houston Boys Swimmer of the Year, Stratford’s Clayton Bobo.
The junior nabbed gold in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle at the 6A state meet this year after winning gold in the 50 and silver in the 100 last year in Class 5A.
With better times, too. Bobo finished his 50 in 19.95 seconds, up from 20.44 last year. His 100 time was just a bit faster in 43.56 compared to last year’s 43.99. Bobo also helped his team finish seventh overall at the state meet with the Spartans’ 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard free relay team both winning consolation finals.
Bobo has a handful of state medals entering his senior year. He expects to finish his high school career a notch above what he’s accomplished in the water.
“He’s gifted but he learns something new and he is eager to progress and develop as an athlete,” Stratford coach Mike Hoskovec said. “He’s kind of added something and I felt like he, this year, really figured out how to work hard and train any set.
“He wanted to be good. He wanted to be good at everything. So, he’s doing distance sets, sprint sets. He’s tackling them all with enthusiasm. It’s kind of cool to see him develop in that way.”
Q: What stood out to you most this season as far as individual and team accomplishments?
A: “As far as individual accomplishments, I was very happy with repeating in the 50 free, winning this year and last year and then to also get the gold in the 100 free because last year, I came up just a little bit short. To do it in 6A was kind of the icing on the cake. Just to accomplish it up there was really cool. Our team really stepped up in 6A. Coach let us know 6A was going to be a very difficult challenge and I think all of them did a great job of stepping up and swimming fast.”
Q: How did you handle the jump from Class 5A to Class 6A?
A: “It was definitely fast. Coach (Hoskovec) definitely let us know that. It was going to be a difficult transition and we were going to notice faster swimming. Also, a great job that coach Hos did was throughout the season at our dual meets and invites, we were racing fast teams. We were racing teams like Cinco Ranch. We didn’t this year but in the past years we would race Southlake (Carroll) and Katy. Hos did a great job of getting us accustomed to racing those fast teams so that when we did go to state, we would be a little more prepared.”
Q: What’s it like racing as a defending champion? Are you used to the target on your back?
A: “It was actually kind of cool this year because granted, yes I was the defending champion and half of me felt like there was a target on my back. But I did know a lot of people were looking at the guy who had won 6A last year. I felt like there was more of a target on his back. The thing that motivates me is going in as an underdog.”
Q: What helped last offseason in your training to allow you to maintain your success?
A: “After the season, me and both my club coach and coach Hos kind of went back to the drawing board and looked at things that I could improve. Just the little things in stroke. I know in my 100 free I went from a breathing pattern of every four to switching it to every two and that helped tremendously. Also, just writing bigger goals. Just things that can push me to work harder. ”
Q: Where are you with offseason training?
A: “After state, I trained one more week and then I’ve gotten three weeks off. This will be my last week off and then come Monday is when I’ll get back in the pool and start working hard again. Someone told me that every time you miss one practice, you have to get two practices to make it up. It’s important to kind of just stay in that water because if you just miss one day, you’re already two days behind.”
Q: How are your college prospects heading into your senior year?
A: “I’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of colleges interested in me. I’m very fortunate and blessed to have the opportunity to be able to go through this college process. As far as the college search, I’m definitely still into hearing all schools. I haven’t really gotten into a certain top five yet so to give a list, I’m not really at that point in the process, but it’s definitely been a very cool and humbling experience.”
Q: What’s in your sights for next year?
A: “There’s a few things, but I’m probably going to keep those to myself. Just kind of going out with a bang. Hoping it kind of comes full circle. Just enjoy one more year with the team. Enjoy all the workouts. It’s been such a fun experience and I want to make sure I take it all in this last go around.”