STATE CHAMPION!

Newcastle’s Connor Leader competed at the Oklahoma Secondary School Athletic Association Class 5A State swim meet in Jenks on February 15-16.

Connor concluded his successful season becoming State Champion in the 100m backstroke and placing second in the 100m butterfly. Connor had personal best times in both of the events at the State meet. He swam the butterfly in 53.72 seconds and the backstroke in 54.98 seconds, all the while dropping close to 2.5 seconds per race during the swim season.

Since Connor is the only swimmer for Newcastle he co-ops with the Norman High School teams.

They practice all school year with seven one-and-ahalf hour swim practices and three to four strength and conditioning practices weekly.

His Newcastle coaches are Kelsey Corbin and Jerald Lewis.

Connor wants to match the five State Championships won by his older sister, Ashley, who also swam for Newcastle.

He was excited to win his first State Championship as a Newcastle High School sophomore and he is glad to see that the hard work is finally paying off.