Paul Corbae, a Westlake senior, was part of an impressive West Austin Aquatics contingent that competed at last week’s U.S. Junior Nationals at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.

Corbae teamed with Reid Elliot (a senior at Lake Travis), Chris Johnson (a May graduate of Bowie) and Timothy Wylie (a senior at Dripping Springs) to finish fifth in the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 3 minutes, 52.37 seconds. This finish marked the highest placement of any Austin team in relay competition at the meet, and it proved the crowning achievement for a week of individual best times by all four swimmers.

Elliot led the individual efforts by achieving an Olympic Trial 0ualifying time in the 100 butterfly. He will head to Omaha, Neb., next June to swim with other Olympic hopefuls. Corbae and Johnson competed in the bonus finals: the 200 breaststroke for Corbae and the 200 backstroke for Johnson.

Wylie dropped five seconds in his 200 freestyle and recorded five personal-best times in all five of his individual events.

Janet Risser, the head coach at West Austin Aquatics, has been with these swimmers every step of the way through practices and meets this summer. An all-American swimmer from the University of Tennessee and an experienced coach, Risser helps WAA swimmers match the training needed for their competitive goals.
During the upcoming school year, Wylie, Corbae and Elliot will train and compete at both USA Swimming competitions as well as their respective high school teams. Johnson will compete this fall for the University of Minnesota.

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