Olathe East’s Austin Acheson named swimmer of the year

Soon after Olathe East’s Austin Acheson won the Kansas 500-yard freestyle state championship last year, Hawks coach Dave Youker delivered the swimmer a new challenge.

Acheson, then a junior, had finished the championship race more than 9 seconds ahead of the nearest fellow underclassman. As Youker recalls, the swimmer began to wonder then whether he’d have any competition in the event this season.

“I said, ‘Your competition is this record,’ ” Youker answered.

That would be the Kansas state meet record. And as a senior this year, Acheson seized it. He won his second consecutive 500 freestyle state championship, finishing in a record 4 minutes, 34.54 seconds.

He did that while leading Olathe East to the program’s first team state title and earning recognition as the athlete of the state meet. And add one more accolade to the list — Acheson is The Star’s All-Metro Kansas boys swimmer of the year.

“I’d be constantly telling myself when I (wanted) to give up, There’s no way I’m going to get this record if I have a single day that I don’t try hard,” said Acheson, who expects to sign with Seton Hall.

In addition to his individual state title, Acheson placed third in the 200 individual medley.

“And,” Youker said, “I think he brought along some of the younger kids and showed them how to work.”

submitted by RYAN YOUNG - 2009-04-02 23:32:04

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