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Mask wins another state title
By Michael Butler
Two years ago, Tallassee Tiger Sharks swimmer Camden Mask won a state championship in the 13-14 50-yard breaststroke at Albertville. On Saturday, he added another individual championship in Birmingham.
Mask was the winner in the 15-18 100-yard individual medley. He narrowly missed another blue ribbon in the 50-yard breaststroke.
"Going into it, I didn't really think about the IM being the one I would win," said Mask, "but it's kind of how it went."
When asked, Mask said the breaststroke is his best event. Still, it does apply in the medley race.
"I usually want to go out and try to win that breaststroke, but I knew if I could keep up in the backstroke I could finish strong."
Mask won by a full second in the IM. In the breaststroke competition, the margin from first to second was .22 of a second.
"I was racing the same guy in the breaststroke as in the IM. He kind of outtouched me. He took another stroke at the wall and I kind of glided in."
Tallassee took 42 swimmers to the weekend event at the Crossplex. The Tiger Sharks were 14th overall. Several, including Cam, will now turn their focus to the school team, coached by his father John.
"A lot will come up this year," said Coach Mask. "We're hoping the swim team at the high school keeps growing. We'll start practicing in a few weeks. Mid-September will be our first meet."
For Tallassee's latest state champion, who will be a junior in 2023, there will be quick respite from the regular six-day per week training before going back to work with the THS team.
"I think we'll have a chance in the upcoming years to contend for a state title as a team," he concluded.
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