Hensley’s stock continues to rise through hard work and sacrifice
LANCASTER – Lancaster’s Jack Hensley, who just completed his sophomore season, is turning into an elite swimmer, thanks to all his hard work and dedication.
During his second year as a varsity swimmer, even though he is still only 15 years old and should have been a freshman last season because he skipped a grade, Hensley showed just how much his hard work and sacrifice have paid off.
He broke the oldest Lancaster high school swimming record in the 100 breaststroke; was a two-time individual Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division champion; was the sectional champion in the 200 Individual Medley; qualified for the Division I high state swimming meet, finishing 22nd in the 100 breaststroke; made the finals in the 200 Individual Medley and finished 14th to earn first-team All-Ohio honors.
Hensley was the only freshman or sophomore to make finals in the event. He also earned the distinction of being a high school academic all-American and carries a weighted grade point average of 4.07.
Maybe even more impressive is what Hensley accomplished last summer as a 14-year-old competing for his club team, the Lancaster YMCA Stingrays.
During the YMCA Long Course Nationals meet, Hensley finished 10th in the 400 Individual Medley; 11th in the 200 breaststroke; 18th in the 200 individual medley; and 26th in the 100 breaststroke.
His 200 breaststroke is what set him apart. His time of 2:26.30 was the 10th fastest 13- and 14-year-old time in the nation last summer. His time earned him an invitation to attend the 2023 USA swimming central zone select camp which was held at Cleveland State University.
The Central Zone Select Camp hosted 56 (28 boys and 28 girls) participants and seven coaches and managers from the Central Zone which is comprised of 14 different states. The camps consist of both in-water practices and classroom sessions that cover various information designed to motivate and empower athletes as they continue their swimming careers.
The criteria are based upon last year’s long course meter season for boys aged 13-14. To be invited, an athlete had to be one of the top seven 13-year-old and top seven 14-year-old boys based on their IMX scores. The IMX score is a point-based system based upon how fast they are in a variety of events. The faster the swimmers’ times, the more points they receive. The next 14 boys selected are the fastest swimmers of the 14 Olympic swimming events.
Hensley had the fastest 200 breaststroke time in the central zone and had the 10th fastest time in the entire country in this event last year for 13–14-year-old boys.
These camps are designed to be a unique motivational experience and an introduction to up-and-coming athletes to being a part of the USA national team.
The only other area athlete that has ever been invited to this camp is Chris Depietro, who was an Olympic trials qualifier and went on to swim at Ohio State.
Thanks to his dedication and sacrifice, Hensley’s stock continues to soar, and he is expecting even bigger and better results in the future.
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on Twitter @twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Hensley’s stock continues to rise through hard work and sacrifice
