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Kilburn Makes History as First PHS Swimmer to State


Posted Date: 02/15/2017

Kilburn Makes History as First PHS Swimmer to State

By Ellis Knox | reporter@campcounty.now

Pittsburg High School swimmer Cole Kilburn made history as the first Pirate swimmer to advance to state.
Kilburn, a 16-year-old junior, will compete in the 100-yard backstroke in Class 5A at the UIL State Swimming and Diving meet Feb. 17-18 at the University of  Texas Swim Center in Austin.
Kilburn represented PHS at the district meet and qualified for regionals in the 50 freestyle (23.39) and 100 backstroke (54.84). At the regional meet on Feb. 3-4 at Texarkana College, the junior placed first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 52.88 – two seconds off his district time. He also was fifth in the 50 freestyle.
At state, the UIL has two conferences  –  6A and 5A. All school 5A to 1A will compete in the same division. Kilburn will compete in 5A because PHS is a 4A school
According to Kate Y. Hector, UIL media coordinator, but the majority of the schools at the state meet are 5A and 6A schools. 
Hector said swimming and diving have been a UIL-sanctioned sport since 1970. 
Friday will consist of the prelims. Kilburn’s time puts him in the running for a medal, but he has to beat his regional time by another second.
“My time right now is 52 seconds on the high end, at state I’m looking for 51 seconds on the low end,” explained Kilburn. “If everything goes well, I think I could place at state. In a perfect race, I believe I can place second or third, not first. The guy who’ll probably place first is crazy fast, but second and third I believe are up for grabs. One guy can break 50 seconds right now, I’m at 52 high and the 12th-place time. Two or three are in the 51-second range and everyone else is in the 52-second range. So it’s down to who will have a perfect race. So the main thing is to take it day by day and on that first day,  have a good race to get in the finals. Then see what happens.”
“We are very proud that Cole, even though we don’t have a swim team, is representing Pittsburg, and attracting more pride for our school and our athletic program,” said PISD Athletic Director Brad Baca.
PHS doesn’t have a swim team or a school swimming pool. Kilburn is a member of the Longview Swim Club and competes in the highest amateur division at meets.
Kilburn said he began competitive swimming five years with the Longview Swim Club. 
He advanced through the classes to reach the top class in the club the “Classic IV.”
“It all started to just have fun with it, but I finally got serious about it when I reached the Classics IV class,” said Kilburn. “Going for the Olympics or something like that is a broad goal. I prefer to take baby steps. This year go to state, maybe place, next year win state, maybe get a swim scholarship, then work from there.”
A week after state. Kilburn has qualified for a national meet at Texas A&M University in College Station with the Longview club.
Kilburn is the son of Jeff Kilburn and Kimberly Knocks.