HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING: A RECORD-BREAKING SENIOR YEAR FOR CORNING'S MCNUTT (2022-01-19)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
Wherever you go in Section 4 you are likely to find Ryan McNutt’s name listed at the school’s pool.

Whether it’s at his home pool in Corning, or at any number of schools throughout the section, McNutt’s name liters the pool records lists all over.

“It’s super nice, coming into each meet, whatever events I’m in there are always those goals of whatever is up on the board, trying to hit that,” McNutt said. “Having that extra incentive to push myself.”

The pool records just add an extra goal each meet for McNutt to try and hit.

“A lot of times I’ll have my coaches look up before the meets what the records are and they will try and decipher what events I should try out. It’s a lot of fun. It makes the sport more fun.”

Already when McNutt goes to pools he sees his name up on boards from records he has set in the past.

“I’m already experiencing that a little bit,” McNutt said. “It’s fun to see the previous path at the other pools. I’m excited after high school following some of the teams to whatever meet and seeing that stuff. It’s kind of fun.”

This year the biggest thing for McNutt is just having more normal meets to attend.

“It’s super nice, especially having all the parents and spectators in the stands,” McNutt said. “It’s a nice change from last year when there was no one in the stands. It’s a lot better atmosphere, and just being able to compete face to face. A lot of times (last year) it was virtual meets, so it’s nice just being able to compete and see the team you are going against.”

McNutt gets plenty of attention as he goes into meets. As a swimmer that has already committed to Penn State, he runs across Penn State fans, and just swim fans in general who are excited to watch him swim.

“It’s really fun,” McNutt said. “Having people I don’t know that support me, it’s really nice. Wherever I go there are always a few people that are rooting me on, so it’s really awesome.

“All the times I’ll be wearing a Penn State shirt and people ask if I’m going to be going there and they are excited because previous Penn State alumni are fans and it’s nice too see the community they have.”

McNutt has had a dominant senior season for the Hawks.

The Corning senior has the top time in the section in the 200 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 100 fly and 100 free, hitting the state time in the 50, 100 and 200 free and 100 fly.

Hitting the state time in so many events will leave a lot of choices for McNutt when it comes to what to swim at states.

“It’s a little difficult, really it just comes down to how close I am to All American times in that event, or what the rankings are based on the other people in the state,” McNutt said. “That will be decided upon closer to the state Championship Meet.”

For McNutt, deciding on what events he will swim means studying the top times in the state this year to see how he comperes.

“It’s neat to see all the other competition (and how McNutt compares to them),” McNutt said. “It’s also a little nerve-racking always having that pressure, but it’s exciting.”

Currently McNutt has the fastest time in the state in the 50 free (21.43) and 100 free (46.49) and the third fastest time in the state in the 200 (1:43.94).

McNutt also has the sixth fastest time in the state in the 100 fly (52.20).

One of the biggest things for McNutt this year is just enjoying every meet.

After Covid shortened last year, and caused no state meet to be held, he’s enjoying each time out this season.

“Especially the last two years, one of the biggest things I’ve learned is taking advantage of the situation and having fun while I can,” McNutt said. “Because, for all I know the next meet could be canceled because of Covid, and the season could be done. So, just appreciating what I have.

“Just taking advantage of everything and having the most fun I can. Not stressing myself about what times I get and just enjoying it.”

In the fall McNutt watched as Angie McKane won the public school state title in the 100 fly and that just pushes him to want to win a state title as well.

“In practice she’d be pushing me a lot,” McNutt said. “It’s neat, on the girls team having that success to. I think that carries over to the boys team.

“We will be doing the fly in practice together and she’ll be right next to my side, pushing me, that’s fun having that competition.”

Next year it’s off to college for McNutt, and he can’t help but look to see how he’ll compare with the Penn State swimmers.

“Just comparing myself, seeing how I’ll fit in next year,” he said. “Just looking forward to the future and seeing what’s in store is fun.

“I wouldn’t say they are really close (his times compared to the times of Penn State swimmers), but they are comparable. It will be a nice change always having those people to practice with.”

One of the challenges for McNutt is to post fast times while often not having a lot of people swimming times equal to his in dual meets. That makes McNutt excited to see what happens in college when he has other great swimmers in practice and meets.

“As I’ve gotten older the competition has kind of withered down,” McNutt said. “So, I’m excited in practice and meets to have someone who is faster than me to push me. It’s really exciting.”

McNutt has accomplished a lot in his high school career, and some of it is stuff that may not sink in until he’s done with high school.

“I don’t think it will sink in until a few years after I graduate,” McNutt said. “I might stop by the pool and still see those times up. Right now, I’m focusing on future times, but it will be fun looking back and looking up at the times on the board.”

A year ago McNutt was part of a state-record relay for the Hawks, as the team was very senior-laden. Now, McNutt is one of the senior leaders on a younger team and he enjoys passing on the things he learned from the kids ahead of him in school.

“It’s a lot of fun,” McNutt said. “Especially having the guys under me, trying to help them out with everything I learned from the guys in front of me. Just trying to pass on that legacy.

“I always looked up to the guys in the grades in front of me so much. It’s weird to think they are in college, moved on, but also that I’m int he position now to be a mentor for these people”
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IN PHOTO: Corning’s Ryan McNutt. PHOTO BY BRIAN FEES



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