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Ben Johnson preps to start a backstroke. (Photo courtesy of Bruce R. Van Bebber / February 12, 2013) |
When Ben Johnson’s coach at Wichita Trinity Academy proposed qualifying for state swimming in eight events, he wasn’t sure what to think of the idea.
Wichita Trinity coach Bruce Van Bebber said Johnson exhibits the rare swimming skill to always place high in his “off events.”
After three meets, Johnson had met state qualifying standards in four of the eight individual events.
“I thought to myself, ‘Wouldn't it be neat to say that you had qualified to swim every single swimming event at state?'
Van Bebber approached Ben with the proposition.
"Ben -- I think you could qualify for state in every single swimming event at state if you wanted to try it,” said Van Bebber. “He just stopped and looked at me for a minute like I was kidding or crazy.”
“Do you really think I could do that coach?” Ben replied.
"Yes Ben -- I really think you can."
Johnson can only compete in four events at state this weekend at Topeka’s Hummer Sports Complex, but his goal of qualifying in eight events became a personal challenge.
“It was a lot of fun and a terrific challenge setting a goal like that,” Johnson said. “I had to really push myself in practice.”
He beat state qualifying standards in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 500 free, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley.
“I may be the only one who has tried that,” Johnson said. “The hardest one to qualify was the breaststroke. It was my weakest stroke. I took a lot of time in practice learning how to work on my stroke from my teammates and coach. I got the time by a couple tenths of a second.”
Van Bebber thought the 500 free would be his toughest challenge, but Johnson made the qualifying time by seven seconds.
“No one that I know of has ever actually ever done it,” Van Bebber said.
Johnson found his home at Wichita Trinity after transferring from Andover, which did not sponsor a swimming program.
“It is a very loving and welcoming community at Wichita Trinity. I love Trinity,” he said. “I’m very happy I found my way here to Wichita Trinity. There are students of every faith at Trinity.”
Van Bebber said Johnson has made his mark as a church volunteer and musical talent at Wichita Trinity.
“Ben is a great kid who plays guitar and sings on the Trinity Worship Team band,” Van Bebber said. “The band leads worship music at Chapel service held weekly at Trinity.”
Johnson volunteers in a Young Life ministry called Capernaum, an outreach program for special needs kids. One of the kids is Dylan Lee, who swims for Wichita Southeast High School.
“I’m a Christian and that’s something that God calls us to do,” Johnson said. “We develop relationships with mentally handicapped kids. I have a big heart for that. I spend time with these kids and hang out with them. That’s something I’ve grown to enjoy. It’s a lot of fun. I feel like it’s changed me a person.”
Johnson will spend his spring break in Nicaragua on a mission trip helping students improve their English-speaking skills.
Johnson has qualified for the finals in the 100 backstroke twice, and is seeded third and he’s seeded 11th in the 50 free. He will also compete in the 200 medley relay (Ben Johnson, backstroke; David Vigilius breastroke; Alex King butterfly, Cody Buettgenbach freestyle); and 400 free relay with Buettgenbach, King and David Vigilius.
“It makes me satisfied that all my hard work has paid off,” said Johnson. ““My goal is to place as least as high as my seeds and just a little higher. The competition at state is very tough in every event.”
Other Trinity state swimming qualifiers will be Alex King (200 IM, 500 free); Cody Buettgenbach (50 free); David Vigilius (100 breast) and the 200 free relay (Buettgenbach, Tony Powell, David Vigilius, Jon Vigilius).
Johnson said he’s always tried to provide solid leadership for his teammates.
“Being a leader for me simply means putting in a little extra time to help the other guys on my team,” he said.
“The best way to get better at swimming is to push yourself. For me, it’s working really hard at practice and putting in extra effort.”
After graduating from Wichita Trinity, Johnson plans to attend Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. and focus on music education and another undecided major.
Wichita Trinity coach Bruce Van Bebber said Johnson exhibits the rare swimming skill to always place high in his “off events.”
After three meets, Johnson had met state qualifying standards in four of the eight individual events.
“I thought to myself, ‘Wouldn't it be neat to say that you had qualified to swim every single swimming event at state?'
Van Bebber approached Ben with the proposition.
"Ben -- I think you could qualify for state in every single swimming event at state if you wanted to try it,” said Van Bebber. “He just stopped and looked at me for a minute like I was kidding or crazy.”
“Do you really think I could do that coach?” Ben replied.
"Yes Ben -- I really think you can."
Johnson can only compete in four events at state this weekend at Topeka’s Hummer Sports Complex, but his goal of qualifying in eight events became a personal challenge.
“It was a lot of fun and a terrific challenge setting a goal like that,” Johnson said. “I had to really push myself in practice.”
He beat state qualifying standards in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 500 free, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley.
“I may be the only one who has tried that,” Johnson said. “The hardest one to qualify was the breaststroke. It was my weakest stroke. I took a lot of time in practice learning how to work on my stroke from my teammates and coach. I got the time by a couple tenths of a second.”
Van Bebber thought the 500 free would be his toughest challenge, but Johnson made the qualifying time by seven seconds.
“No one that I know of has ever actually ever done it,” Van Bebber said.
Johnson found his home at Wichita Trinity after transferring from Andover, which did not sponsor a swimming program.
“It is a very loving and welcoming community at Wichita Trinity. I love Trinity,” he said. “I’m very happy I found my way here to Wichita Trinity. There are students of every faith at Trinity.”
Van Bebber said Johnson has made his mark as a church volunteer and musical talent at Wichita Trinity.
“Ben is a great kid who plays guitar and sings on the Trinity Worship Team band,” Van Bebber said. “The band leads worship music at Chapel service held weekly at Trinity.”
Johnson volunteers in a Young Life ministry called Capernaum, an outreach program for special needs kids. One of the kids is Dylan Lee, who swims for Wichita Southeast High School.
“I’m a Christian and that’s something that God calls us to do,” Johnson said. “We develop relationships with mentally handicapped kids. I have a big heart for that. I spend time with these kids and hang out with them. That’s something I’ve grown to enjoy. It’s a lot of fun. I feel like it’s changed me a person.”
Johnson will spend his spring break in Nicaragua on a mission trip helping students improve their English-speaking skills.
Johnson has qualified for the finals in the 100 backstroke twice, and is seeded third and he’s seeded 11th in the 50 free. He will also compete in the 200 medley relay (Ben Johnson, backstroke; David Vigilius breastroke; Alex King butterfly, Cody Buettgenbach freestyle); and 400 free relay with Buettgenbach, King and David Vigilius.
“It makes me satisfied that all my hard work has paid off,” said Johnson. ““My goal is to place as least as high as my seeds and just a little higher. The competition at state is very tough in every event.”
Other Trinity state swimming qualifiers will be Alex King (200 IM, 500 free); Cody Buettgenbach (50 free); David Vigilius (100 breast) and the 200 free relay (Buettgenbach, Tony Powell, David Vigilius, Jon Vigilius).
Johnson said he’s always tried to provide solid leadership for his teammates.
“Being a leader for me simply means putting in a little extra time to help the other guys on my team,” he said.
“The best way to get better at swimming is to push yourself. For me, it’s working really hard at practice and putting in extra effort.”
After graduating from Wichita Trinity, Johnson plans to attend Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. and focus on music education and another undecided major.
