LYMAN — Cooper Haycock has his eyes set on breaking the state record in the 100-yard backstroke this season.

The Lyman High School senior is not far off. 

As a sophomore last season, Haycock took first in the event with a time of 54.78. His personal best to date is 54.68, putting him just over a minute behind the current mark that was set in 2008 by Terry Rolfe of Newcastle, who swam a 53.01.

“It’s definitely going to take a lot of hard work,” Haycock said. “It isn’t going to be easy. I am going to give it my best shot, and hopefully walk away with my name on the record board.”

Haycock also took second in the 50-yard freestyle (22.61) and was part of three successful relay team for the Eagles.

“He’s definitely our best guy coming back,” said head coach Loren Huntsman, who is entering his 11th season at the helm. “He’s a good leader for the team and a good, hard worker in the pool. We’re going to rely on him a lot and hopefully have him guide some guys along with him.”

Lyman took second in the 200-yard medley and the 200-yard freestyle relay. The Eagles also finished third in the 400-yard freestyle relay, helping them to a second-place finish at state for the second straight year.

Lyman graduated four swimmers who placed in the top six at state last year, including Braydon Saxton, Conner Crook, Trevor Hick and Konner Legault. Matthew Cramer was also a state qualifier and finished 10th in the 100-yard freestyle. 

Saxton took fifth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:59.29) and was third in the 500-yard freestyle (5:24.18). Hicks earned a third-place finish in the 200-yard IM (2:09.87) and was sixth in the 100-yard backstroke (58.67), while Crook was fifth in the 200-yard freestyle (2:04.57). Legault was another leader for the Eagles last season, finishing third in the 50-yard freestyle (23.01) and was fifth in the 100-yard freestyle (51.87). 

“We lost some good kids from last year,” Huntsman said.

But the veteran coach was quick to point out the talent Lyman has returning this season.

“We have some good guys coming back,” he said. “We want to stay in the top five. We have some good swimmers returning and have a couple  of new kids. We hope to stay in the top five at state and be competitive.”

Lyman returns state qualifiers Stone Olguin and Wynn Officer, along with junior Carson Walker. 

Olguin placed sixth in the 100-yard freestyle (52.45) and earned a fifth-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke (1:03.06). Walker took third in the 100-yard butterfly (57.02) and was sixth in the 200-yard IM (2:15.453). Officer was seventh in the 100-yard backstroke (1:01.77)

“I think we have some really good swimmers,” Haycock said. “I think we’ll do really well at state this year.”

New to the mix are freshmen Carter Huntsman and Hampton Bradshaw. Both swimmers made high school state-qualifying times as middle schoolers.

“We hope they can score some points at state for us this year,” Loren Huntsman said. “Hopefully we’ll be making strides from last year.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZANNA OLGUIN