DOUG WEBSTER SET FOR RETURN TO VARSITY
ACTION. ROYAL
OAK KIMBALL SWIMMER IS RATED AMONG THE
BEST IN NATION
Webster to Rejoin
High School Team
BY JIM HIGGINBOTTOM
Doug Webster, ranked among the finest high school
swimmers in the United
States, is ready to rejoin his Royal Oak Kimball teammates.
The youthful All-Stater, holder of Michigan's Class A
prep record of
3:56.8 for the 400-yard freestyle and the National AAU four-mile title,
sat out the first half of the current season because of scholastic
ineligibility.
"Doug has been practicing faithfully," said Kimball
Coach Dick Heller,
"and I think he'll be better than ever. We'll certainly be an improved
team when he returns Monday."
Kimball was scheduled to swim Grosse Pointe
today-minus Webster. The
Royal Oak squad will face Hazel Park on Feb. 5 with Webster. Kimball's
current won-lost record in dual meet competition is 8-1.
Webster will give Heller great latitude in planning
meet lineups. He
is a probable winner in all freestyle events from 100 yards up and in
the
backstroke, butterfly and individual medley. "I don't knock it," the
personable
Heller laughed.
Webster, a 16-year-old junior, with plenty of prep
eligibility remaining,
hasn't limited his recent activity entirely to the practice pool. He
took
six first places, breaking four records, and swam on two winning relays
in the age-group meet at Patton Pool during the Christmas holidays.
Heller credits Webster with much of his team's success
this season even
though he hasn't helped Kimball on the scoreboard.
"The boys have had to chase him in practice and it
can't help but make
them go faster," Heller said.
No particular goals have been set for Webster during
the balance of
the season. A good guess might be that Doug will swim the 400 in the
low
3:50s, the 100-for fun, perhaps-in 49 something and the backstroke
about
56.
The 200 and individual? Wait and see.
|
|