Prince adds two crowns to Port’s record book

Port Washington High School’s star swimmer was back after competing in a national meet, and the difference helped the Pirates double up Plymouth on the road on Dec. 16.

Port prevailed, 112-60, winning 10 of the 11 swim events.

Senior Charlie Prince set two more school records while winning two events. He swam the 50-yard freestyle in 21.84 seconds, breaking Nick Duffy’s record of 22.05 seconds, and he broke the 100 backstroke record in 51.85 seconds, replacing Zach Miller’s 55.03.

“It felt great getting those records. I’m going to be honest I don’t remember the swims all that much,” Prince said. “I enter a zone and all I can remember is the color white.”

That, he said, is a coping mechanism he learned at his Ozaukee Aquatics Swim Club.

“Over the years my coaches at Ozaukee have helped me overcome ‘stage fright,’ so to say, so all I focus on during my races is the color white, or even just nothing at all. It just helps me keep my mind clear,” Prince said.

He said his teammates helped put him on the record board posted at the Thomas Jefferson Middle School pool, where Port competes.

“I am so thankful for my team for cheering me on and helping me get those records. I know if they weren’t there I wouldn’t be able to break those records,” Prince said.

That makes five individual school records and one relay record on Prince’s resume.

“Charlie performed exceptionally well, competing with the goal of breaking the records,” coach Brittany Roecker said. “His powerful underwater kick in the backstroke really helped him surpass the previous record.”

The rest of the Pirates also glided through the pool.

Sophomore Ian Brown won the 200 freestyle in 2 minutes, 10.79 seconds and the 500 freestyle in 6:15.85.

Sophomore Jacob Greene won the 200 individual medley in 2:37.84 and was second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:18.52.

Freshman Nathan Nisiewicz won the 100 freestyle in 58.4 seconds and was second in the 50 freestyle in 25.93 seconds.

The 200 medley relay of freshman Colton Pease, Prince, senior Caden Hafele and Nisiewicz won in 1:52.2. The 200 freestyle relay of freshman Caleb Winker, Brown, Pease and Nisiewicz won in 1:49.27. The 400 freestyle relay of Brown, Greene, Hafele and Prince won in 3:58.64.

Winker was second in the 100 freestyle in 1:01.69, and senior Noah Blavat was second in the 500 freestyle in 6:18.28.

“The team looked great in their win, had excellent sportsmanship and a strong competitive spirit,” Roecker said. “The freshmen have shown steady improvement at each meet, and many of the boys swam events they’re not usually in and did great.”

Port swims at Cedarburg on Tuesday, Jan. 6.