STATE HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Central's Bish aiming for more

Blair Bish hopes his final swimming meet for Little Rock Central results in another state championship.

Bish, a three-time state champion, will defend his 50- and 100-meter freestyle championships Saturday at the high school swimming and diving state championships at the Donaghey Student Center Natatorium on the UALR campus in Little Rock.

High school swimming and diving championships

WHERE UALR Donaghey Student Center Natatorium, Little Rock

TIME 3 p.m. today (diving), 10 a.m. Saturday (swimming)

TICKETS $6 general admission

Preparing for the state meet has been a fun experience for Bish, a senior who will swim at the University of Arizona next fall.

"We're tuning up," Bish said. "We're getting ready, getting all the fine details worked out.

"When I'm having fun with swimming, then that's where I do my best. I don't like to think about it too much or get real focused a long time in advance. I love to do what I do."

Bish also won the 200 individual medley title in 2013. He was third in the 100 freestyle in 2013 and second in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke in 2012.

This season, Bish posted the state's top time in the 200-yard individual medley (1 minute, 57.90 seconds) on Jan. 23. He also posted the third-best time in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.23) on Jan. 13.

"It's a pleasure to be around a guy like that," Central Coach Adam Nelsen said. "He's bound to do something that most people aren't used to seeing. He's a good role model for all the other kids. He shows them what they need to do."

Bish, who has been swimming since he was 4 years old when his family moved from Texas, said he appreciates the racing and companionship aspects of the sport.

"There's not a whole lot of sports where you can just get up and race like you do in swimming," Bish said. "You're really good friends with your teammates. I can get on the blocks, and as soon as that race is done, we're all best friends."

Nelsen said Bish, who also swims with the Arkansas Dolphins swim club, and his teammates train before and after school. He also said determination is one of Bish's main strengths.

Tennessee, Louisville, Southern California, Michigan and Missouri State also showed interest in Bish, but he signed in November with Arizona.

"That's a team that's hungry for a championship," Bish said. "It's the best place for me."

Once Bish gets to Arizona, he will train with Kevin Cordes, the American record holder in the 200 breaststroke (2:07.86) who is a senior for the Wildcats.

Bish said he hopes to swim at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

"It will be cool to train with him," Bish said. "I'll be training with what it takes to get to the Olympics. I hope to get as good as him, if not better."

Nelsen is looking forward to seeing what's next for Bish.

"He raises the bar for a lot of kids who are coming up," Nelsen said. "He's somebody special. Maybe we'll see him in the Olympics. He's that kind of guy."

Sports on 02/27/2015

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