Hines nets prestigious accolades for second consecutive year

Sunday, September 13, 2020
Ben Hines' certificate naming a member of the All-America Interscholastic Swimming Team.
Submitted Photo

Nevada High senior student-athlete Ben Hines is on quite the roll.

The superstar swimmer recently garnered the Springfield Sports Commission Swimmer of the Year award, achieving a repeat of the feat. The award is essentially the MVP for the state of Missouri for that respective prep sport.

Hines wrapped his junior campaign by defending his 50 and 100-yard freestyle gold medals at the Class 1 state swimming and diving championships last fall. Hines also captured gold in nearly every individual event he competed in last season.

Hines said receiving the prestigious accolade was a definite honor.

"It's pretty awesome," Hines told the Daily Mail.

Hines, who is committed on a full-ride swim scholarship to the University of Alabama, noted that many other future NCAA Division I athletes were in the running for the Springfield Sports Commission's top awards.

"It's just an honor to be up there with them," he said. "And, just to know that I'm at the top of my game right now."

Hines said there were some obstacles during the pandemic, as far as getting in regular practice-time. Almost all area pools were closed during the spring and into the summer. Hines, however, was able to remain in tip-top shape, and is ready to roll for the fall high school swim season.

"We've been doing full-blown practices," he said. "We haven't really taken a break since we got started up a couple of weeks ago."

Aside from Hines, the crown jewel of the program, the Nevada High swim team will look drastically different this season, having lost eight departed seniors from last year's squad. Hines said he's assumed a leadership role.

"I've really been trying to push those guys," he said. "It's a little different coming from a high school guy than it is a coach, but I think they're responding pretty well."

Hines was also recently named a National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association All-American. He achieved the accolade for his record-breaking state championship time in the 50-yard freestyle — 20.07.

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