GREENFIELD — Timing is everything.
From the start, to every precision stroke and kick, to each well-sequenced gasp for air, nothing is left to chance. Much like the finer details surrounding a race-changing turn, Greenfield-Central junior Travis Black is a student in the pool.
And, he’s right on schedule, if not ahead of it with the season’s second half approaching fast.
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“He’s been swimming very consistent and fast, which is good. The 100 time (at the Hoosier Heritage Conference meet) was really great to see, to see that type of speed from him, especially in that last (200-yard medley) relay leading off, just a 10th of a second off the school record, but that’s kind of the things we’ve been working on is endurance,” Greenfield-Central coach Mark Logan said.
With strength comes mettle and subsequent speed, which Black has used to shave time throughout his career. A state competitor each of the past two seasons, the sprinter is on the fast track for more.
As a freshman, he swam on two state-qualifying relays, including the sixth-place 200 freestyle team. As a sophomore, sliced towards a conference and sectional title in both the 50 and 100 freestyles while also winning sectional championships on the 200 medley and 400 free relays.
At the state finals, however, Black made his future intentions known by placing sixth in the 50 free, setting a school record by posting a 20.88 finish inside the IUPUI Natatorium during the preliminaries on opening night.
On Saturday at New Palestine while his team captured a 10th straight HHC championship, Black established two new individual league meet times and helped the 200 medley relay team rewrite history with a time of 1:36.51.
His 100 free time of 46.48 toppled Andrew Torres’ 47.32 set in 2017. His 50 free finale at 20.88 during the HHC meet erased Eric Mattingly’s former standard of 21.03 set in 2004.
More importantly, his record day foreshadows even more swift potential.
“He’s doing a fabulous job in the pool, and it’s showing,” Logan said. “There’s nothing guaranteed. Everybody’s training is different. It’s just an indicator. It’s a positive indicator for him to be swimming this fast. That was his best time (in the 50), so he tied a school record and best time from state. So that’s a good sign, obviously with a couple more months to go.”
The key is 21. A second more and the results change drastically. A second less, and the competition will tread in his wake.
“That’s the mission. Again, if, could, would have, he probably should have won it last year, but with the 50, everything, the turn, start, finish matter, and we didn’t nail the finish,” Logan said. “We took an extra stroke.”
That extra stroke last February cost him precious time. With the 200 medley relay team, which finished 14th at state last year, Black swam his 50 leg in 20.99. In the 50 free finals, he stayed consistent at 20.99, but couldn’t catch up to that 20.88.
Not until this past weekend.
“I’ve always put a lot of focus into the 50. That’s just the main thing I’ve always approached, and the main thing I’ve always looked forward to at meets,” Black said.
“My sophomore year, I wanted to get the (HHC) 50 record, and I missed it by .4 or something like that, and I was upset. Since we were rested this time for the meet, I really wanted to get it.”
When the lanky, 6-foot-2 Black locks onto a goal, he’s difficult to sway. Much like Zachary Cook, a 2017 state champion in the 100 butterfly as a junior, Black is peaking but not resting on past success. It’s his trend.
During last year’s New Palestine Sectional, Black swam a 21.06 in the preliminaries and posted a 21.27 to win the 50 free title. He instinctively dropped below 21 once he reached downtown Indianapolis.
At state, he was only one of two underclassmen to reach the finals as a member of the elite eight in the 50 free. Castle’s Branden Rollins finished fourth, two spots ahead of Black, only 0.09 seconds faster.
“Him being one of two returning people in that final heat, looking at the times, he’s definitely one of the fastest in the state,” Logan said.
His work ethic backs Logan’s assessment.
“The 100, I wanted to get it (at HHC), but I knew it would be a close one, so I was like it’s going to be something I need to go for. I think the 100 record was a pleasant surprise,” Black said. “The 100 is also a focus, but it’s really funny sometimes at meets. The first half, I swim the 50 and the 200 medley, which is two 50s, so I’m really focused on 50 pace, what can I do in the 50?.”
“Then it’s like a 180 from the first half to the second half where I have two 100s instead where I’m fatigued from my earlier races, but it’s all fun. I enjoy it.”
