By
BRIAN SMITH
Special to The News Journal
03/27/2006
When Gordon Kurz had
his twin sons, Tanner and Seth, learn to tread water before they were 6
months old, his intention was to teach them a safety skill so he could take
them hunting and fishing.
He never expected
Tanner to become one of the nation's fastest swimmers in his age group.
At the Middle Atlantic
Junior Olympics in early March, Tanner Kurz broke national 11-12 boys
age-group records in the 100-yard and 400-yard individual medley. He has his
sights on several more marks in the Eastern Zone All-Star Swimming
Championship, Thursday through Saturday in East Meadow, N.Y. Among the
records he's targeting is the Eastern Zone 100 butterfly mark set in 1998 by
Michael Phelps, who won eight medals in the 2004 Olympic Games.
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sixth-grader at St. Edmond's Academy, Kurz has been swimming competitively
since age 8. He joined the Delaware Swim Team (DST) at age 9, teaming with
coach Sean Dougherty. This season, Dougherty said, has been Kurz's best.
Seth Kurz also is a
standout swimmer and qualified for the Eastern Zone all-star meet, which
includes the top age-group swimmers from throughout the Northeast.
"The simplest way
for me to put it is, he's just the fastest ever [at this age],"
Dougherty said of Tanner. "He's the fastest ever in the 100 individual
medley, which shows versatility. There's been a lot of different swimmers
come along down the line who haven't gotten these records.
"He's grown and
he's a lot taller than some of the other boys, but at the same time, his
talent is very evident."
When Tanner is in the
water setting a record, he said he doesn't notice that his performance is any
more special.
"It just feels like
a regular race," he said. "I just swim it to my best, and do it.
I'm going to try for [records at the Eastern Zone meet], but if I don't get
it, at least I worked for it."
One of the things that
impresses Dougherty about Kurz's season is that he did so well in a variety
of events.
"The thing that
stands out the most is the versatility he's shown," Dougherty said.
"It hasn't just been setting records in one event. He's been dominant in
every single event he's done."
And Kurz's
accomplishments have been noticed throughout the DST program.
"I would say that
he's the most talented swimmer that I've seen," said Jocelyn Saunders,
another DST coach and a world-class triathlete. "I think he certainly
has the potential to make it to the very top as he progresses."
So what would it mean
if Kurz broke a Michael Phelps record this weekend?
"It's the Eastern
Zone record, not the national age-group record," Dougherty said.
"If he got to the national age-group record, that would be very
impressive. When he sees the name [Phelps], it makes him excited."
For now, Kurz swims
competitively only during the winter. He plays baseball in the Piedmont Babe
Ruth League in Hockessin, and finds the summer months to be a good break from
swimming. For that reason, Dougherty said, it's hard to judge exactly what
kind of swimmer Kurz could become.
"He's somewhat of
a raw talent, and where to go from here isn't too clear right now,"
Dougherty said. "He does play other sports, and a lot of other boys
[swimmers] his age are doing doubles, practicing all year-round, maybe eight
or nine times a week.
"He's
[practicing] five or six times a week for four or five months out of the
year. The first step for him is to commit himself to the sport and become
involved in a more serious training program. He's a sectional qualifier,
which is a pretty big deal."
Kurz said he is
enjoying swimming, especially being able to meet swimmers from all over the
country at the bigger meets and swimming with his friends. His father isn't
sure what's ahead in swimming for Tanner and Seth, but he's gotten great
satisfaction to this point.
"It's just been
pretty amazing from my perspective," Gordon Kurz said. "Back when
they were 7 or 8 years old, I had no idea Tanner would be able to go into
these big meets and not only sweep everything, but take all these records.
"It's been
something that Tanner has done more naturally than anything. He enjoys being
with his friends in the pool every day. He enjoys being in the water. And
when he swims, he swims in earnest."
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Special to The News Journal/T.J. HEALY
II
Tanner Kurz swims
during a practice with the Delaware Swim Team at the Delaware Swim and
Fitness Center in New Castle on Friday. Kurz, who has set records in his age
group, is targeting the Eastern Zone 100 butterfly mark set in 1998 by
Michael Phelps, who won eight Olympic medals.
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this photo
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Special to The News Journal/T.J. HEALY II
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Tanner Kurz
broke the national 11-12 boys age group records in the 100-yard and
400-yard IM.
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EASTERN ZONE ALL-STAR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday-Saturday, East Meadow, N.Y.
Delaware Swim Team participants: Matthew D'Aguiar,
Clifton Gordon, Kaitlyn Jones, Seth Kurz, Tanner Kurz, Nicole Vernon
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