Lakeside sophomore Mason Vondenstein has already broken three state records out of four state events in his first two years at the high school level, but his goals continue to evolve as he surpasses each new objective.
Vondenstein has been swimming competitively since middle school with the Hot Springs Family YMCA Seals swimming team and took his talent to the next level in the last two years with Lakeside. He is the son of John and Lindsey Vondenstein and the 2018 All-Garland County Swimmer of the Year.
“When Mason enters the pool, he is confident that he is one of the best, but he does not let that confidence become arrogance.”
The Seals are coached by Jim Norman, aquatic director at the YMCA, and Payten Frunzi, a former member of the Henderson State Reddies' swim team.
"When Mason enters the pool, he is confident that he is one of the best, but he does not let that confidence become arrogance," said Lakeside swim coach Brad Launius. "He stays focused on the task at hand: swimming fast. He works hard every practice and is a very grounded young man.
"I've only been working with him for two years now but even when I talk about him to coach Norman, he speaks highly of how hard Mason pushes himself in their practices and meets."
His first season as a freshman allowed the 6-4 Vondenstein to see what he was capable of against more experienced competition. He said he was anxious to see how well he could compete.
"I thought it was going to be probably harder than club, but when I started, it was not as hard as I thought it would be," Vondenstein said. "I saw I was doing really well in high school and that gave me some extra motivation."
Vondenstein set his first state record as the 1A-5A state champion in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:12.74.
"I was really excited for this year because I did so well last year," Vondenstein said. "I was hoping I could do better this year, and I definitely did."
Vondenstein was not able to rest on his laurels at the Class 1A-5A state swimming championships in February at the Bentonville Community Center. His own state record and the previous state record in his other event were both broken by other competitors.
The sophomore was seeded first in the 200 medley and the 100-yard backstroke. Jordan Jones, of Little Rock Christian, surpassed Vondenstein's state record with a time of 2:11.44. Heston Coon broke the state record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 0:55.83. The previous record was 0:57.54, set in 2017 by Bryson Horn, of Haas Hall Academy.
Jones and Coon's times were only good enough for second place.
Vondenstein smashed his previous record for a time of 2:05.85 in the 200 medley. The margin was slightly less in his state victory in the 100 at a time of 0:55.55. Vondenstein said he exceeded even his own expectations.
"I never thought I would have such good times," Vondenstein said. "I thought I would probably get a state championship, but it would be harder, and it definitely was. If I had not gotten better over this year, I would not have been able to get those state medals."
Athletes are only able to compete in two individual events at state, regardless of how many for which they qualify. Launius said Vondenstein could finish his high school career with seven individual gold medals. The potential for more medals is made through relay events, in which each athletes can swim in two, along with their two individual events.
"If we can get enough guys to put a solid relay team in the pool, he could win a few more in some relays as well," Launius said. "He continues to lead by example on the Lakeside swim team both in the pool and out.
"I'm excited about what his future holds, potentially a college scholarship and, who knows, maybe a run toward the Olympics is in his future if he continues to work hard and get stronger and faster."
Vondenstein and multiple members of the Seals team at various schools throughout Garland County compete throughout the year and practice a minimum of 3-4 days per week for 2-4 hours per day.
Many swimmers work with weight training inside and outside of the pool. Vondenstein said he focuses on training in the pool about six days every week.
"What I think is really neat about what we have been doing is we have been only in the water, which not a lot of people do," Vondenstein said. "Having this much success is not usually seen just in water training."
Opportunities offered by both the YMCA and Lakeside are crucial to Vondenstein's development as a swimmer.
"Of course, I wouldn't be here without the YMCA because that is where we practice," Vondenstein said. "But without high school swim, I would not have the motivation I have. I really enjoy being successful at the high school level."
Vondenstein traveled to Columbia, Mo., this month with Seals teammate Nicole Burek, a junior at Lakeside, to compete in the USA Swimming Central Zone sectional after qualifying from the state level. The Central Zone includes 15 states and the sectional competition is among 11 that took place across the country this month.
"We did not place that well because there were future Olympians swimming there, but I succeeded," Vondenstein said.
Vondenstein said he shaved a second off of his state-record time in the 100-yard backstroke. He now his eyes set on qualifying for the USA Swimming Junior National Championships as he works toward a future swimming at the college level.
"I want to get to junior nationals in the next two years, but college is definitely the biggest goal I have right now," Vondenstein said. "I want to swim in college and be super successful there. The Olympics, I will have that as a goal later once I get to that level.
"I try not to set my goals too big. I just focus on one thing. When I finally get there, it feels very rewarding, and then I set my next goal."
Sports on 03/25/2018