“Records are meant to be broken.” We’ve all heard this cliché used in movies or uttered humbly by athletes, but have you ever stopped to think about the weight of these words? “Records are meant to be broken…” If someone holds a record, it is no small feat. For an athlete, holding a record means hours and hours of practice dedicated to their sport. It means early morning workouts, healthy eating, perseverance, discipline, and an endless supply of passion. When you consider everything that goes into setting a record, it may seem too good to be true that an athlete would exude such selflessness and contentment upon hearing that their record has been broken. However, Pete Carey and Cole Janzow, both alumni of the Woodford County High School swim team, prove that athletes really do have genuine excitement when their records are beaten. These two Jacketfish, though 26 years apart, epitomize good sportsmanship and a commitment to one’s team.
Pete Carey, WCHS Class of 1995, is strongly connected to Woodford County, the school district, and the swim team. He grew up here, his parents were students in the district, his mother, Susan Carey, taught at Woodford County High School for decades, and he and his siblings all swam for the high school swim team. Additionally, Susan became a dedicated volunteer and champion of the WCHS swim team. Pete's first exposure to the swim team came years before he joined. Dana Wilds, the person who taught him how to swim when he was eight years old, was a Jacketfish. Dana used swim lessons as an opportunity to impart her love of the sport to kids in the community.
The passion for swimming grew quickly for Pete. Not only did he love competing and pushing himself in the pool but he also enjoyed the serene feeling of weightlessness that can only come from swimming. Pete’s dedication and natural abilities soon led him to set new school records. When reflecting on how it felt to become a record-holder, Pete says, “It felt good. It translated to confidence in other areas of my life.” As a 17-year-old, record-breaking swimmer walking the halls of WCHS, Pete surely did not imagine that he would be present, 26 years later, to witness another swimmer come and "annihilate" his best times. In true "Records are meant to be broken" mentality, he describes the swimmer who set the new team records these past two years as "Herculean."
Cole Janzow, WCHS Class of 2021, is the swimmer who Pete praised with such genuine excitement. Cole, who enjoys challenging himself in his sport, has long had the goal of seeing his name on the school record board. He says, "I can still remember when I first joined the team in 8th grade, and I found out about the school records; I immediately set my sights on breaking the records that had been around longer than I have." With this goal in mind, Cole brought the same fervor and effort to practice each night and at each meet as if it were his biggest race yet. He knew what he wanted to accomplish, and he was well aware of the commitment it would require to make it his reality.
"It takes a lot to be a swimmer. Most people don't understand the amount of hours and hard work that we swimmers put in and the amount of hard work that it takes to be competitive," Cole explains. His dedication to the sport, willingness to push himself, and natural athleticism are evident in how he performs in the pool.
Blair Hicks, WCHS Swim Coach, says, “Most swimmers have two strokes, maybe even one, in which they excel.” However, Pete points out that Cole has broken the record for both the 50m and the 500m freestyle races. He explains further that the difference in lengths of these two races is significant. It's up and down the lane once at the Falling Springs pool versus up and down the lane ten times. Coach Hicks, adds, “His range is phenomenal. The kid can go from a 50 free to a 500 free to a 100 breaststroke to 100 butterfly. That is pretty unfathomable. I can’t even convey how much athletic ability he has.”
Cole’s talent and determination led to the achievement of his goal. After his final season as a Jacketfish, Cole’s name is on the record board a total of nine times. The records, with the times, are as follows:
200 Individual Medley — 1:58.83
50 Freestyle — 21.75
100 Butterfly — 51.07
100 Freestyle — 48.46
500 Freestyle — 4:50.53
100 Breastroke — 58.6
200 Medley Relay — 1:39.83 (Xavier Moore, C. Lewis, Nathan Janzow, Cole Janzow)
200 Freestyle Relay — 1:29.19 (Cole Janzow, Nathan Janzow, Jake Schotanus, Ben Carey)
400 Freestyle Relay — 3:17.58 (Cole Janzow, Nathan Janzow, Clay Lewis, Xavier Moore)
When asked about his records, Cole showcases remarkable humility; he says, “I hope that my records inspire others on the team to be the best that they can be.” This statement is a glimpse into the strong character and kindness Cole possesses. Coach Hicks says, “As team captain, Cole leads the other swimmers by example. He does it in such a humble way.” She explains that Cole takes one of the youngest swimmers on the team under his wing each year. He works with them at practice and meets. He cheers them on in their races. Cole is intentional about investing his time and interest in the younger swimmers. He says, “My role as captain is to inspire the younger members of the team. For the older members of the team, I want to inspire them to become leaders next year.”
In these ways, Cole contributes to the positive, supportive culture of the swim team. He notes, “There is a wide range of skill on the team and experience in the sport. No matter how fast or slow we are, we all celebrate each other’s improvements and cheer each other on.” Coach Hicks explains that Cole takes a sport that is individual in many regards and strives to make it as much about the team as possible.
Cole’s leadership and desire for team cohesion and togetherness are some of the many reasons why he is valued by the swimmers, coaches, and team parents. Pete Carey, who is now the father of three Jacketfish, appreciates that his sons have such a tremendous role model on their team. Pete states, “He’s a natural at leading by example.”
When asked how it makes him feel to be a record-breaker and to see his name on the school record board, Cole says kindly, “It’s exciting. It was definitely a goal of mine. Being able to walk into school and see my name on the record board is really awesome.” He pauses. “I’ll be more excited when I see my records being broken because it will mean that the team is improving...The thought makes me excited...I get more excited for other people’s swims than my own. I’d much rather be watching someone else swim and cheering them on than swimming myself...I really hope people look at my records and want to break them. I hope it inspires them and pushes them in practice.” He goes on, “It’s nice to have them, but I’m excited to see them go someday.” Cole laughs and adds, “Well, I’d like to keep one or two of them.”
“Records are meant to be broken…” It seems too good to be true, doesn’t it? For Pete Carey and Cole Janzow, having their records broken is actually the best part of holding a record. What may seem “too good to be true” is actually the mark of sincerity, sportsmanship, and selflessness. Thank you to both Pete and Cole for being shining examples of what it really means to break a record.
