Delaney Barbee is ready to make some serious waves, literally, as the Boulder Creek senior is chasing down her own state record in the 50-yard freestyle, a blistering 22.74 seconds she set a couple of years back. After a tough transition year where she missed the mark and finished second, she’s back in the pool gunning for glory, with state prelims set for November 6 and finals on November 7.
The Sophomore Stunner and the Season of Struggle
Rewind a couple of years, and Barbee was absolutely dominant, snagging state titles in both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyles in her sophomore season, clocking a 50.28 in the 100. Then came last season, a real gut-check for the 5-foot-11 swimmer. She switched from the Arizona Dolphins to the Scottsdale Aquatic Club, and that move hit hard. “I think the adjustment to a lot of higher volume training was hard on my body, and it just took a year to adjust to it,” Barbee admitted. It showed, too. She finished second in both her signature events at the state meet, posting 23.30 in the 50 and 51.51 in the 100. Talk about a brutal setback after setting such a high bar.
New Commitment, New Power, New Drive
But that’s all behind her. Barbee’s got a fresh mindset, and it’s backed by some serious work. After initially committing to Arizona State, she decommitted and then announced her commitment to the University of Arizona this week. Her coaches, Scott Newell and Dan Morse, are seeing a different athlete in the water this year. She’s been grinding in the weight room alongside her pool sessions, and it’s paying off big time. “I feel a lot different in the water, a lot more confident in the water this year,” Barbee said. Her current best time is a 23.0 from a relay leadoff, and she’s got her sights set. “I’m really hoping at districts this week I can get under 23,” she said, with state as the ultimate target: “And, at state, maybe get close to my record. Maybe break it.” The Boulder Creek girls’ team, a top-five finisher at state last year, will lean on her in two relays and her individual 50 and 100 free events. Morse puts it simply: “She’s come back really well. Last year was a bit of a struggle for her. But she’s a really tough kid. She managed to get through that adversity and now everything is starting to move forward again. I think she’s primed to have a really good state meet.”
Barbee’s been a force since day one, owning three age-group state records before even hitting high school. And while she’s got dreams of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, she’s staying grounded, focused on what’s right in front of her. “I think I’ve been able to handle it pretty well,” she said, reflecting on her confident freshman year. She’s hoping to pass that same energy and confidence on to the next generation of swimmers. All eyes will be on Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa this November 6 and 7. Can she reclaim her throne and smash that 22.74 mark? You just know she’s gonna leave everything in the pool trying.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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