Second 3rd-place medal cements DeNero's legacy
CANTON –
Galion swim coach Ted Temple wasn't trying to cause any family friction by calling Sam DeNero "the best sprinter I've ever coached."
The results speak for themselves. DeNero placed third Friday in the 50-yard freestyle during the Division II finals of the state meet at C.T. Branin Natatorium, equaling last year's finish – the highest ever by a Tiger swimmer.
"My son (Steve) was a good sprinter, but he was more of a 200 guy," Temple said. "He's in Texas now, coaching my grandson."
So unless he looks at the News Journal website, Steve Temple may never know he ranks below DeNero in dad's pecking order.
DeNero broke his school record in the 50 in the prelims and again in the finals, finishing in 21.20. Bay Village's Trevor Lake, in the middle lane next to DeNero, repeated as champion (20.60) and Sam Vester of Cincinnati Indian Hill was runner-up (21.09).
A photo of the start showed the second-seeded DeNero behind Lake and the third-seeded Vester in getting off the blocks. But the 6-foot-5 DeNero made up the difference quickly in the water. At the turn, it looked like it was going to be DeNero and Lake duking it out like they did in Thursday's prelims.
"I'm always the last off the blocks and first one out of the water," DeNero said. "I can't be mad; I improved my school record; that's all I can ask for. You can't be disappointed when you drop time."
He certainly didn't expect Vester to spoil his bid to improve on last year's third-place medal.
"In the 50, anything can happen," DeNero said. "Any mistakes can kill you. I don't think I screwed anything up. I had a better time (than last year), so I think I did better."
Temple beamed as he talked about big Sam passing the torch next season to "little Sam" Rigdon, a freshman who swam on Galion's state-qualifying 200 free relay team with DeNero, senior Chad Karnes and freshman Luke Eisnaugle.
"Sam really wanted to get 20 seconds," Temple said, "and it looked to me like he did everything right. It looked like it was going to be a two-horse race but (Vester) came out of nowhere. That doesn't matter. I'm happy with Sam. It was a good swim."
DeNero, who has narrowed his college choices down to Eastern Michigan and Wright State, left a big imprint on Galion's program, as did Karnes.
"Those two are going to walk out with five records each," Temple said. "They both have three relay records and Sam also has the 50 and 100 free and the 100 (butter)fly and Chad has the 200 and 500 free records."
Even though he also took All-Ohio honors in the 100 free with a 12th place finish, the 50 free and 100 fly were DeNero's individual races most of the season. He broke his best friend Zane Ekin's school record in the fly in the first meet of the season against Lexington's two-time state medalist in the event, Derek Sautter.
With the perfect size and physique for a swimmer, DeNero could probably swim any race. He enjoys trying new things, which is why he's planning to play tennis this spring. It's the last high school sport on his list to check off.
Eventually, his picture might even make it up on the school's Wall of Fame.
"I thought they were going to do it my sophomore year (when he earned an eighth-place medal in the 50 free)," DeNero said, "but I think they forgot. At least I'm on the (record) board."
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