The more sports the merrier for Palmer swimmer

PALMER - Nate Cross doesnt have an S on his chest, but he would make Clark Kent jealous with his quick change of uniforms.

While Cross isnt Superman, he is quickly becoming Palmer High Schools Iron Man. The school year is a little more than two months old, and this weekend, he is going to be making his second appearance in a state championship meet.

Cross was a mainstay on the Palmer boys cross-country team this year, and he helped Palmer contend for a state championship. But as soon as that was over, Cross was in the pool swimming for Palmer, and last weekend he qualified for the state meet in the 200-yard individual medley.

Nate made the switch easily. He is the kind of kid who works his butt off to succeed in everything he tries, said Tim Lundt, Palmers swim coach. Its such a tough switch to make because in running, you build up your legs and lose a little upper body strength. In swimming, you build up your upper body and lose mass on your lower body.

Lundt swam and ran in college, so he knows what Cross is going through trying to be a dual-sport star.

You have to be committed, and Nate definitely is, Lundt said. It sure would have been nice to have him the whole season, but he was trying to help the running team win the state title.

Last year, Cross performed the switch as a freshman by training with both teams from the start of the season. This year, with Palmer in the mix for a state title in cross-country, he devoted much of his time to that team and decided to pick up swimming midway through the season.

I just got so run down last year, Cross said. I was swimming every morning and running after school, and it was too much. This year, I swam a couple of times in the mornings and then ran every day. I feel a lot better this year.

While Lundt said the switch is a difficult one to make, Cross sees it as simply having fun.

I dont want to pick one or the other. They are both a lot of fun and I like both sports, Cross said. Ill probably keep doing this through high school.

Local swimmers ready for state

Colonys Nick Foley and Amy Van Dyke lead the Valley charge into the state swimming meet this weekend.

Both Knights posted region championships in the the 500 freestyle, and Foley added a title in the 200 freestyle.

Foleys time of 4:59.19 was the third-fastest in the state, and one of only three sub-five-minute times among the 16 swimmers qualified for the state meet. In the 200, Foley was the seventh-fastest qualifier.

Swimming alongside Van Dyke in the 200 and 500 is Wasillas Atali Smith, the only Warrior in the state meet. Karen Burke of Palmer is also slated to swim the 200.

Like her brother Nate, Palmer freshman Kelly Cross is swimming in the individual medley. She is also swimming the 100 freestyle.

Dirk Craft of Palmer is competing in two events the 100 breast and the 50 free. Teammate Seb Gardino is also swimming the 100 breast.

Swimming preliminaries begin at 4:30 p.m. today.

Diving preliminaries begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, and the finals of all events begin at 3 p.m. Saturday.

All events are at the Bartlett High School pool.