Adam Destrampe is a four-time state meet qualifier with a wealth of podium finishes.
A senior, he has placed in the top eight three times in the 500-yard freestyle and has twice been in the top four in the 200 free — including a third-place finish last year.
So when Franklin Community High School boys swimming and diving coach Zach DeWitt said he has never seen Destrampe perform the way he’s performing now, you know coach and swimmer are thinking state championships.
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In both events.
“He’s certainly on track. I’ve never seen him swim this fast during practice,” DeWitt said. “I try to stay away from (predictions), but he can definitely put himself in a position to win either race.”
That’s precisely what Destrampe, who won both events at the sectional, intends to do.
Although he doesn’t go into an event with a specific placing in mind, he does approach each with the same mindset: Go fast.
“I go into it more focused on my own times, because I can’t control the person next to me, but I can control my own times,” Destrampe said. “So my personal times are my main focus.”
Destrampe — who will also compete in two relays — is expected to be among the frontrunners in both the 200 and 500 free. He finished third in the 200 last season and was fourth the previous year.
In the 500, he was fifth as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore and fourth as a junior.
Although Destrampe’s highest finish at state has been in the 200, DeWitt likes his chances in the 500, as well. Perhaps a little more so.
Endurance, after all, is Destrampe’s chief strength.
“He’s always been a guy who could swim forever,” DeWitt said. “What’s been a goal for him is to build some of that short-range speed so he can compete a little better in the 200 and 500 free. He’s definitely got a better shot at the 500 due to it being a longer race.
“But nevertheless, I could definitely see a situation where he puts himself in a position to win both.”
Destrampe’s bid begins with tonight’s preliminaries at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis. The top eight placers in each event advance to Saturday’s championship finals.
“The way that I feel in the pool, I feel pretty confident in my ability to post some really good times both Friday and Saturday,” said Destrampe, who will continue his career at Indiana University.
Regardless of where he places in this, his final state meet appearance, Destrampe has already made an indelible impression on the Franklin swimming program.
“He’s the best swimmer to ever come through Franklin Community,” DeWitt said. “He has reopened our eyes to what’s possible here at Franklin as a swimmer. We’ve seen that echo down through our age-group program.
“People believe that they can achieve great things because of Adam.”
Destrampe will be joined at the state meet by teammates Clayton Culp (50 and 500 freestyles) and James Pryor (100 breaststroke), along with the Grizzly Cubs’ 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay.
The 200 and 400 relay members are Culp, Destrampe, Josh Barrett and A.J. Rice.
