The Liberty swim team has had a season to remember. All four levels made it to the valley championship with an undefeated record in league.
But if their regular season was good, their postseason was even better. Senior Michael Hart, yes the son of 23ABC's Mike Hart, faced his toughest test of the year.
"Everything has to be perfect," said Michael. "Your dive, turn, stroke, your fingers-the way you put in the water and everything. It has to be perfect." Just the top two finishers move on to state with less than three tenths of a second separating those going and not going. "It's like whoever has the perfect race."
Michael was nearly perfect finishing second in the 50 freestyle as well as the 100 breast earning an automatic bid to state in both events. He was the only male to qualify for state as an individual, something he's done for the last two years.
But unlike last season, this time he won't be going alone. "To have my best friends there with me and swim," said Michael. "We talked about this at the beginning of the year. We're like 'We're going to state."
Liberty's 200 freestyle relay team will also be heading to Clovis after getting in with a consideration time. "We get to go have some fun, watch the best swimmers in the state of California which includes them," said head coach Mark Urmstron.
As for Michael's future, both Hawaii and CSU Bakersfield were recruiting him with official visits to both schools. In the end Michael said it was an easy decision to become a Runner. "Hawaii is paradise but I've found so many more pros to staying here," he said. "For me it's like I grew up here and I'm going to rep my town by staying here."
Michael and the Liberty swim team will be competing in the state swim meet Friday and Saturday at Clovis West High School.
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