AOTW: In his wake: Clarkston’s Stelpflug sets records, leaves opponents a length behind
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
CLARKSTON — If Kenneth Stelpflug was a hit record maker, he would be pumping out gold singles like the Beatles and Elvis Presley did so in the 1960s.
Records have been flowing from the Clarkston product’s talents with regularity.
FAR AHEAD: Clarkston's Kenneth Stelpflug has set 10 school records in his career and will graduate as the school's all-time top swimmer. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
But singing may not be the senior’s expertise. He saves his records for another arena — inside the nadatorium.
Stelpflug is one of the top high school swimmers inside talent-laden Oakland County this season and is one of many who are eyeing a grand finish to the high school season with the upcoming state meets.
Few can argue that Kenneth Stelpflug has already made a massive wake on Clarkston’s swimming and diving program. The individual championships and many records are proof for that.
Now a senior, Stelpflug would like to go out with a strong finish at the upcoming Lower Peninsula Division 1 state finals, which will be held at Oakland University.
“My goal, hopefully, would be to finish in the top three,” said Stelpflug following the recent OAA Red Division championships. “I feel like my training has been very good and I have (seeds) that are really high up there. I would love to win (the 500 freestyle). That is my strongest event. It’s a goal, so let’s see what happens.”
While Stelpflug will swim two of the three relays at the state meet, his specialties have been the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyles.
“I know I am seeded really high in the state in the 500 free. I would love to try to win that, get into the low 4:30s.
Stelpflug has set records in 10 of 11 events during his stellar school career and he still owns nine school records — only one has been surpassed by a teammate — leaving quite a mark on the Wolves’ records board. He currently does not hold the 100 breaststroke and the diving record, an event he hasn’t attempted.
Stelpflug signed with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee late last year, taking the recruiting pressures away.
He had been contacted by a handful of Division I and Division II schools, but will head to the state of Wisconsin where he has plenty of family.
“Kenny has had a great career for us,” said Clarkston coach Kenwyn Chock. “I know he would love to go out with a great (finish) at the state meet. “He has been such a big part of our program. He has set an example to the younger swimmers.”
A lanky 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds with long arms, Stelpflug has the perfect makeup for a distance freestyler, where he hopes to excel in the college ranks. For now, he aims to finish strong in the final weeks of his senior season and carry that over into the spring club season.
Stelpflug won both the 200 free and 500 free in convincing fashion at the Oakland County Championships in early February, becoming the first male county champion for Clarkston, which began its swimming and diving program in the late 1990s. He followed that up with winning the 200 IM and 500 free at the OAA-Red league meet, the latter coming in 4:39.89, another personal best and one of the faster times I the state this season.
Stelpflug comes from a long list of swimmers in his family — his freshman sister Sami was a multi-event all-stater as a freshman last fall — and his father and other siblings are also swift in the waters. The eldest Stelpflug has a chance to go after some gold.
A year ago, former teammate Jordan Zendejas captured the state title in the diving, becoming the school’s first state champ in boys swimming and diving. Stelpflug would love to join that list.
“I feel my best race is still yet to come,” admitted Stelpflug, who was fourth in the 500 free and sixth in the 200 free at last year’s state finals. “I’m hoping it comes at the (state meet).”
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Category: BWW Athlete of the Week, Clarkston, Prep Wraps
