Swim sensation Like his older brother, Conner O’Halloran is making waves in Boardman.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

HE’S AN “ANCHORMAN”-quoting, “Dave Matthews Band”-listening, “Ladder 49”-loving, steak-eating honor student who wakes up at 5 a.m. four times a week to swim laps at the Beeghly Center pool, goes on ride-alongs with firefighters and thrives on the type of pressure that comes with anchoring one of Ohio’s best relays at the state meet.

And yet, for much of his life, Boardman senior Conner O’Halloran was known for something else: being Tyler’s little brother.

“I’ve tried to break away from that,” said O’Halloran, whose older brother won three state titles before going on to an All-America career at the University of Texas. “At times it gets frustrating because people are always comparing you to your brother.

“But it’s nice sometimes. You get respect right off the bat.”

O’Halloran earned that respect himself last season at the state meet, finishing fourth in the 50-yard freestyle and helping the Spartans earn All-Ohio status with a seventh-place finish in the 200 free relay, breaking the school record in the process.

He didn’t rest in the offseason, either, working hard in the weight room while training with Penguin Swimming, the club team at YSU. All the work was centered around making the most of his senior year.

“I pretty much had no offseason,” O’Halloran said. “The bar keeps getting raised.”

In addition to his lofty goals this season, O’Halloran will also take on a different role. In past years, he looked up to the seniors. Now, he is one — and that means added responsibility.

“It’s kind of neat,” he said.
“I enjoy it ... most of the time.”

O’Halloran’s talent separates him from most — he’s the most successful area swimmer since Tyler and Warren Harding’s Nate King were seniors in 2003 — but he doesn’t rely on talent alone. His work ethic has earned respect from teammates and opponents alike.

“He’s completely dedicated to what he’s doing,” said Boardman coach Terry O’Halloran, who is also Conner’s father. “He never complains about where he has to be or what he has to do.

“He just loves the sport.”

O’Halloran’s goal this season is to lower his time in the 50 freestyle below 21 seconds — he swam a personal-best 21.40 during the preliminaries at last year’s state meet — and to place in the 100 freestyle, where he finished 21st last year.

And if he can qualify for the state meet in a relay or two, so much the better.

“He’s working hard to get where he wants to go,” his father said.

And while the season has just started, O’Halloran is already thinking about his post-high school life. He recently visited the University of Pittsburgh, which has a good swimming program and is pouring millions more into its facilities. It’s also close, which pleases his father.

“Going from Youngstown to Austin, Texas, is a little tricky,” Terry said. “It’d be nice to watch him swim.”

Most important, Pitt offers O’Halloran’s major of choice: emergency medicine. In addition to the ride-alongs, O’Halloran often carries around an emergency radio, allowing him to learn how to respond to emergency calls.

“He has a keen interest in saving people,” Terry said. “He doesn’t want to be a doctor, but he’s interested in fighting forest fires or jumping out a plane.”

He’s attracted to the major for the same reason he loves swimming: it allows him to perform in life’s biggest moments.

“I love being the last person in a relay at a really close meet,” he said. “I’d love to carry that forever.”

scalzo@vindy.com