Coming off his first taste of the U.S. Olympic Trials last summer, Nelson junior swimmer Drew Eubanks has been busy raising his national profile.
The Tennessee commit is the top-ranked junior in the nation in the 100-yard breaststroke and is No. 2 in the 200 breaststroke. At the Junior Nationals West meet in December, he clocked a personal-best 53.09 seconds in the 100 breaststroke prelims, ranking him in the top 10 all-time nationally for 16-and-under.
As he prepares to chase a third consecutive 100 breaststroke title in the 6A championships Friday and Saturday at Tualatin Hills Recreation Center, Eubanks is on top of his game.
“Last year I really focused on long course leading up to Trials, but this year, ever since September, it's just been all short course, and I've been having fun,” he said. “I'm swimming really well, really confidently. I'm real confident in myself and what I can do.”
Nelson coach Kelsey Scully marvels at Eubanks' mindset.
“Drew just has tenacity,” Scully asid. “He's got a really positive spirit. Where some athletes might get psyched out, Drew really pumps himself up mentally. That's an asset for him. He sets goals and then he achieves those goals.”
Eubanks recorded new bests not only in the 100 breaststroke at Junior Nationals West, but also the 50 breaststroke (24.80), 200 breaststroke (1:55.73) and 200 IM (1:50.40). Last month, he added new bests in the 50 butterfly (23.74), 100 butterfly (51.28) and 100 freestyle (47.44) while competing for his Dolphins Portland club team at the Washington Open.
His PR in the 100 breaststroke represents a dramatic improvement from a year ago, when he repeated as the 6A champion with a time of 55.56.
“That really shocked me,” Eubanks said of his performance in December. “I didn't think I was going to go that fast.”
Eubanks is the heavy favorite to three-peat in the 100 breaststroke this week. His qualifying time of 55.20 is far ahead of the No. 2 seed, Jesuit junior Julien Lee (56.83), and better than the 6A meet record of 55.40 (Brian Frazier, Oregon City, 2016). He also is seeded third in the 200 IM with a qualifying time of 1:53.55.
Eubanks is taking aim at the OSAA meet record in the 100 breaststroke of 53.36, set by Caldera's Campbell McKean in the 5A meet last year. The Texas-bound McKean, who improved his time to 51.72 at Junior Nationals West, will not compete in the breaststroke in the 5A meet this year as a senior.
“I want to get Campbell's record,” Eubanks said. “I've gone faster than that mark before, and I think I can get it.”
McKean's personal best of 51.72 in the 100 breaststroke seems to be a bit out of reach for Eubanks for now.
“I don't think I'll get that this year,” Eubanks said. “I think next year, if I keep progressing like I have, that's definitely in the conversation for me.”
Eubanks and McKean share a mutual respect. Eubanks said they have gotten closer in the past year, especially at the Olympic Trials, where they were among the few Oregonians. They also went head-to-head at Junior Nationals West.
“I love the guy,” Eubanks said. “He's the most humble person I've ever met, especially with his talent and hard work. After both of my races at Juniors, when I was next to him, he congratulated me before doing anything else. He's a really good sport.”
In the 200 IM, Eubanks placed fifth in the 6A meet as a freshman and fourth last year. He is looking to move up this year against a field that includes the defending champion and No. 1 seed, Sunset junior Luca Ignatescu (1:50.68).
“The 200 IM is going to be a really fun race,” Eubanks said. “I think I could definitely be a contender for that title. That's definitely a goal of mine. I want to drop down into the 1:48 range.”
Eubanks has become a more seasoned and savvy competitor in the last year. Although he had a subpar performance at the Olympic Trials, participating in the meet at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis helped him gain perspective.
“It's the greatest and scariest thing I've ever done,” he said. “I'm really grateful just for the experience. I think that's more valuable than the time I swam. Next time I'm at Trials I'll be 20 years old, and I'll already be training at Tennessee with my college coach, and I'll be stronger, more mature. It kind of warmed me up for these next four years.”
Eubanks admits that “the moment kind of got to me” at the Trials.
“I walked out of the ready room and there was like 10,000, 20,000 people in the stands, and it was this giant NFL stadium,” he said. “It was amazing. It was by far the biggest meet I've ever been to.”
Eubanks showed his versatility at a dual meet this season when he broke the school record in the 500 freestyle, held by former teammate Adrian Dulong, a state placer. He convinced Scully to enter him in the event.
“He said, 'This is what I'm going to do. I tried it once at practice, and I'm going to do it at the meet. Put me in it,'” Scully said. “And he did it. He's really good at what he does, but he's also really good at everything else.”
Said Eubanks: “That was a really fun race. I told everyone I was going to go for the record, so every time I took a breath toward my team, they were all cheering me on.”
Eubanks' natural talent best fits the breaststroke, however.
“The way that he feels the water with his hands, he's able to move across the pool in five or six strokes,” Scully said. “It's just the way he handles the water and the power in his kick.”
Eubanks has a bright future in the breaststroke, in particular the 200, where his skill and endurance is more of a factor.
“My 100 breaststroke is ranked higher, but I'm a 200 breaststroker at heart,” he said. “I don't lift weights. I wouldn't say I'm weak, but I'm not like the strongest guy in the pool all the time. So having the 200 breaststroke, it lets me use my technique. I kind of have that back-end speed, that closing speed.”
A look at the state meets at Tualatin Hills:
Boys
6A
Prelims, Friday 1:45 p.m,; finals, Saturday 1:15 p.m.
Teams to watch: Jesuit, Sunset, McMinnville, Westview
Returning state champions: Drew Eubanks, Nelson, jr. (100 breaststroke)
2024 team scores: Jesuit 93.5, Sunset 92, West Linn 78, Glencoe 76
Notes: The Tennessee-bound Eubanks, the 100 breaststroke champion the last two years, clocked 53.09 in the event in December, faster than the OSAA meet record of 53.36, set in the 5A meet last year by Caldera's Campbell McKean. … Sunset juniors Luca Ignatescu and Victor Krautsov – half of the Apollo's OSAA meet-record 400 freestyle relay team last year – have the best qualifying times in two events: Igantescu in the 200 IM and 500 freestyle; Krautsov in the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle. … Jesuit – champion in eight of the last nine state meets, including the last two – has 10 entries seeded in the top three, including three No. 2 relays. Jesuit senior Tenmy Wangpo is seeded No. 1 in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.
5A
Prelims, Friday 9 a.m., finals, Saturday 8:15 a.m.
Teams to watch: Crescent Valley, West Albany, Summit, Silverton
Returning state champions: none
2024 team scores: West Albany 76, Crescent Valley 57, Summit 53, Caldera 30
Notes: Caldera's Campbell McKean, a Texas commit who is the No. 14 senior recruit in the nation, set OSAA meet records in the 200 IM (repeat title) and 100 breaststroke last year and blew both marks away at Junior Nationals West in December. This year, however, McKean has opted for the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke and is the top seed in both events. He won the 100 backstroke as a sophomore. … Summit senior Landon Egeland, committed to UC San Diego, is seeded first in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. His brother, junior Brecken Egeland, won the 100 butterfly last year and has the top qualifying time in the 100 freestyle. Brecken is the No. 2 qualifier in the 200 freestyle, .43 seconds behind his brother. … Crescent Valley, the champion in 2022 and runner-up the last two years, is seeded first in all three relays. Raiders senior Emerson Gatherum is the top seed in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke.
4A/3A/2A/1A
Prelims, Friday 6:30 p.m.; finals, Saturday 6:30 p.m.
Teams to watch: Catlin Gabel, North Bend, Phoenix, Newport
Returning state champions: Adam Li, Catlin Gabel, sr. (200 IM); Zane Ricker, La Grande (500 freestyle); Ben Hurty, Newport, sr. (100 backstroke)
2024 team scores: Newport 72, Catlin Gabel 47, La Grande 31, North Bend 23
Notes: After winning titles in 2022 and 2023, Catlin Gabel was runner-up to Newport last year. But the Eagles – with seven entries seeded in the top three – are in position to regain the crown. Li has the No. 1 qualifying time in the 100 butterfly and 200 IM, where he is the two-time reigning champion. Eagles freshman Coe Dauler is seeded first in the 500 freestyle. Dauler will face La Grande senior Zane Ricker, who won the event the last two years. … Newport's Hurty, who won the 100 backstroke last year and the 100 freestyle in 2023, enters seeded second and third, respectively. … Cascade Christian sophomore Myles Anderson is the top qualifier in 100 freestyle and 500 freestyle.
Girls
6A
Prelims, Friday 1:45 p.m,; finals, Saturday 1:15 p.m.
Teams to watch: Jesuit, Wells, Lakeridge
Returning state champions: Lauren Sexton, West Linn, jr. (200 IM); Ariya Abdullah, David Douglas, soph. (50 freestyle); AnneMarie Vlaic, Lake Oswego, sr. (100 butterfly, 500 freestyle)
2024 team scores: Jesuit 107, Lakeridge 93, West Linn 57, Lincoln 55
Notes: Jesuit goes for its third consecutive title and fifth in six state meets. The Crusaders have 14 entries seeded in the top six, including junior Stela Sufuentes, who has the No. 1 qualifying times in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. … Vlaic, committed to SMU, is bidding for a three-peat in the 100 butterfly and a repeat in the 500 freestyle. In the butterfly, her best (53.73) is within striking range of the OSAA meet record (53.13). … Abdullah became David Douglas' first individual state champion since 2009 last year. … Newberg junior Sydney McDonald is the top seed in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
5A
Prelims, Friday 9 a.m., finals, Saturday 8:15 a.m.
Teams to watch: Bend, Redmond, West Albany
Returning state champions: Maddie Thornton, Bend, jr. (200 IM, 100 backstroke); Emma Bronson, Bend, jr. (100 butterfly); Quincy Taliaferro, Canby, soph. (500 freestyle); Hadley Hayes, Bend, sr. (100 breaststroke)
2024 team scores: Bend 119, Canby 48, Redmond 33, West Albany 30
Notes: Bend, which won nine of the 11 events last year to compile a 5A record 119 points, is the clear favorite. The Lava Bears have 16 entries seeded in the top three, including all three relays. They have the No. 1 qualifying time in five individual events with Bronson (200 freestyle, 100 butterfly), Thornton (200 IM, 100 backstroke) and Hayes (100 breaststroke). The Georgia-bound Thornton is going for a three-peat in the 100 backstroke. Bronson's qualifying time of 54.59 in the 100 butterfly is faster than the 5A record she set last year (55.47). Thornton, Bronson and Hayes swam legs on the OSAA meet-record 200 medley relay last year, but the fourth member, Kamryn Meskill, moved to Washington for her senior year. … Summit junior Adeline Bennett is the No. 1 qualifer in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
4A/3A/2A/1A
Prelims, Friday 6:30 p.m.; finals, Saturday 6:30 p.m.
Teams to watch: Catlin Gabel, Marshfield, Sweet Home
Returning state champions: Becca Koza, Cove, jr. (200 freestyle, 100 freestyle); Avery Bengtson, Cottage Grove (100 backstroke); Kirsten Sautel, Sweet Home, sr. (100 breaststroke)
2024 team scores: Newport 54, La Grande 43, Sweet Home 29, Union/Cove 26
Notes: Entering as the top seed in both events, Cove's Koza is poised to win a third title in the 200 freestyle and repeat in the 100 freestyle. She also won the 500 freestyle in 2023. … Sweet Home's Sautel, the two-time reigning champion in the 100 breaststroke, has the top qualifying time in the event. Her freshman sister, Khloe, is the No. 1 seed in the 500 freestyle. … Catlin Gabel sophomore Tia Chakrapani is the No. 1 qualifier in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly. Catlin Gabel also is seeded first in the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. … St. Mary's senior Elise Chamberland, the 100 freestyle champion in 2023, enters with the top qualifying time in the 50 freestyle.
jerryu@osaa.org
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