Koehler’s stellar swim career continues

“I got up there and I just said to myself, ‘I’m going to do this. I’m just going to go for it and what happens happens.’”

— Catholic Central’s John Kevin Koehler after winning the third and final state championship of his career in 2003.

SPRINGFIELD — John Kevin Koehler fans the flame of his swimming dream every day. Six years after graduating from Catholic Central High School, where he won three state swimming championships, Koehler is still pursuing his goal — a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.

“I’ve got it set in my mind that I want to swim for another two years,” Koehler said. “The hardest thing for me — and I’ve talked to my dad about this — is sitting here thinking, ‘Am I wasting my time? I just turned 24. I’m done with college. I don’t make enough to support myself. Some of my support comes from my parents. Do I need to grow up?’ ”

Listening to Koehler say that back in April at the Springfield YMCA, fellow Central graduate Pat McHugh shook his head.

“Don’t do it,” McHugh said.

McHugh was inspired by Koehler back in high school, and he would love to see Koehler realize his ultimate dream. Koehler is going to give it his best shot. He now trains with his old team and coach, Kevin Wheldon of the Dayton Raiders. Koehler plans to compete at the U.S. National Championships in August.

Don’t bet against him. Koehler is the most decorated boys swimmer in Clark County history. He first broke through at the state meet in 2003, winning the 500-yard freestyle in 4:26.79.

“That 500 is one I’ll never forget,” he said. “I didn’t take a breath the last 25 yards. It came down to the last 25, me, Steve Roof and Kevin Nead. I’ve cried watching that race on tape. We made that last flip, and it was anybody’s race at that point.

“I gave it everything I had, and I hit that wall. I didn’t know who won. I wasn’t sure. I pulled myself out of the water because everybody is cheering, and I couldn’t see the clock. Then I remember thinking, ‘It’s over. It’s over. I won.’ ”

A year later, Koehler won twice. He took the 200 freestyle in 1:37.84, almost a second faster than Cincinnati Turpin’s Hank Browning, who had the top time in the preliminaries.

“That was probably the hardest race I remember doing,” Koehler said. “The 200 free is definitely at the bottom of my range, as far as sprints go. I could barely see when I hit the wall.”

Koehler follow that up by beating Browning again in the final race of his high school career, the 500 free. His time of 4:24.11 won by close to five seconds.

“There was no one even near him in the race,” then Catholic Central coach Ally Teusink told the News-Sun after the race. “He was by himself the entire race. I think it was a great way for him to finish off his senior season.”

Koehler continued his career at Indiana University. He was a two-time All-American and finished 12th in the 1,650 freestyle at the NCAA championships in 2007 and 14th a year later.