Swimmer captures state titles, heads to regional meet

After just two years on the Wave Ryder Swim Team, 10-year-old Joseph Potkonjak, of Bigfork, has qualified for two events at next weekend's Northwest Sectionals Age Group Competition in Federal Way, Wash.

"I think it's a really great accomplishment for me," Potkonjak said. "It's really exciting."

In order to qualify for an event at sectionals, the swimmer must have finished the event within a certain time during the season. Potkonjak qualified for sectionals in his first event when he swam the 50-yard Backstroke in 36.31 at a meet in Helena last month.

At the state meet in Butte, which was held the first weekend in March, Potkonjak had his second qualifying time, 1:16:97 in the 100-yard Backstroke. He also grabbed two state championships in the 10 and under division. He took first for his 2:33:49 finish in the 200-yard Freestyle and first for the 500-yard Freestyle with a time of 7:02:31. He was also the first place point winner in his nine to 10 age group.

"I just try to tell myself that I'm going to get what my goal is and no one is going to stop me," Potkonjak said of his strategy.

As Potkonjak gets ready to head to sectionals he has new goals he is focused on. He is hoping to improve his times enough to qualify for the Western Zone Age Group Championship in Hawaii in August. He had five personal bests at the state meet, including his 100-yard Backstroke time. In order to qualify for zones, Potkonjak must shave 1.22 seconds off from his 50-yard Backstroke time and 1.48 seconds off of his 100-yard Backstroke time at sectionals.

The pressure will be on, though, as there will be about 1,600 swimmers at the meet, a number far greater than the 350 or so that attend the meets Potkonjak swims at in Montana.

"I'm kind of nervous about this one because they are going to be a lot better and they're going to make me work a lot harder," Potkonjak said.

He won't be without some familiar faces. Fellow Bigfork area teammates Jordan Loyda, who is 14 years old, and Emily Sullivan, who is 11, also qualified for sectionals each in two events.

Following sectionals, Potkonjak will begin training for the long course season, which runs from May through July. Last year he was the 50-meter Backstroke champion in his age group at the long course state meet.

Potkonjak said that he has been practicing more this year than last year and is swimming more yards in each practice.

"I like pushing myself to get better," Potkonjak said.

He added that Wave Ryder coach Deidre Loyda has been working with him more this year and has helped him become a quicker swimmer. She has helped him to focus on his turns and body positioning.

His mother, Sheila, taught swimming lessons and was a lifeguard from junior high through college, but the younger Potkonjak ultimately became interested in the swim team last year because some of his friends were on the team. At first he just swam on the days that the team practiced in Bigfork, but once he got more into the sport his parents started taking him up to the Whitefish practices as well.

"We end up doing homework while we're driving back and forth to Whitefish," his mother said. "It's tough, but he is still a good student. He's keeping a positive attitude and is handling it all very well."

Potkonjak has also managed to find time to play basketball for Bigfork Elementary School, where he is a fifth grader, and on the local traveling team.

"I just love doing sports," Potkonjak said. "I like working hard and setting goals."

He also plays football and he usually plays baseball, but this year has decided to take a break from the spring sport to focus on swimming.

Potkonjak said that he enjoys the contrast that team sports have to swimming.

"I like it because it's not just one person that's doing all the work," he said. "I like doing both because it trains you to have a lot of endurance."

He doesn't seem to mind the hectic schedule that he ends up with as the swim season runs through his other sports.

"I think it's fun having a lot going on," Potkonjak said. "It really teaches you how to focus. My parents are really supportive and they get me to bed early so I have enough sleep for the next day."