NORTHAMPTON — Johnny Williams left a legacy and a void with the Northampton boys swim team.
Last year, the now-graduated senior won a state title in the 100-meter butterfly, breaking Bob Hagberg’s 40-year-old mark. He also contributed to two relays that finished second in the state meet and helped set a Western Mass. record in the medley relay.
He led by example in the pool and created a culture of camaraderie on the pool deck and in the locker room.
“Johnny brought an atmosphere to the team. He was a great swimmer, but he was also not very super competitive, so it was fun to hang out with him,” Northampton junior Quinn Nortonsmith said. “It feels like the team is looking for a new type of culture, trying to find itself.”
Nortonsmith and fellow junior Nick Whitcomb are at the head of the search party. They swam breaststroke and backstroke, respectively, on the Blue Devils’ record-setting medley relay.
“We all joke that where you see one, you see the other,” second-year coach Molly McLoughlin said. “Those two will be pushing themselves, and they always have since I’ve known them.”
Whitcomb, in particular, has set lofty goals for himself. He wants to retain his first-place finishes in the 100 backstroke at Western Mass. and states in addition to etching his name next to that event in the state record books. The record is 49.24 seconds, set by King Phillip’s Aaron Gustafson in 2012. Whitcomb won the state title in 51.71.
“I was not too close last year, but I don’t think I swam my best race, even if it was a best time,” Whitcomb said. “It’s a lot, but it’s definitely doable. I want to set ambitious goals, and I think I’ve almost always reached them.”
His goals for Nortonsmith are for his teammate and friend to win states and set a state record. Nortonsmith took a more conservative view of his season’s prospects.
“I’m looking for the Western Mass. title in the 100 breast and one of the freestyles,” he said.
In terms of replacing William’s production in the sprint freestyle and butterfly events, in addition to the relays, the Blue Devils will turn to their depth. Gabe Lyons-Sosa and Brendan McBride have experience in championship-level meets.
“The core of the team still has the same strength,” McLoughlin said.
Northampton finished third as a team at Western Mass. and took sixth at the state meet.
In order to improve those positions, the Blue Devils understand they need more swimmers at the meets.
“We want to incorporate more people into the championship meets. Those are where you get to measure yourself against yourself,” Nortonsmith said. “It’s fun to not have the same guys there every year. We hope to see a bunch more guys make Western Mass. this year.”