LEXINGTON — All those early-morning workouts feel a little lonelier for Lexington senior Derek Sautter now that his favorite training partner isn’t around.
The Richland Bank Athlete of the Week, Sautter won the 500 yard freestyle for the third straight year and defended his championship in the 100 butterfly at Saturday’s Ohio Cardinal Conference Meet at Wooster’s Ellen Shapiro Natatorium.
In year’s past, Sautter would have celebrated his titles with older sister Hailee. The 2014 Lex grad and four-time state qualifier is a freshman swimming for Ohio Northern this winter.
“I miss her being around in general. We were always pushing each other,” Sautter said. “We’d do all the morning practices and make sure we did everything extra.
“She was the best training partner. We got along so well. It was a lot of fun. I really miss her not being around this year.”
The absence of his older sister and two-time state meet MVP Hannah Stevens has meant Sautter has assumed more of a leadership role for the Lex swimming programs. Both the boys and girls teams finished second to OCC juggernaut Wooster on Saturday.
“I’m just trying to do my job and be a good influence on the team by setting a good example for the freshmen coming up and making sure they fall in love with the sport like I did,” Sautter said.
So how does his leadership style differ from his older sister’s?
“Hailee wasn’t very outspoken. She wasn’t an in-your-face leader. She was lead by example. If she thought it was necessary she would put her input in,” Sautter said. “I’m not as soft-spoken as Hailee. I’m more (in-your-face) than she was but I’m not too bad.”
Lex coach Brock Spurling couldn’t ask for a better leader. Sautter is on pace to qualify for the state meet in the 500 freestyle and 100 butterfly for the fourth time. He was sixth in the fly and 13th in the free as a sophomore before moving up to third in the fly and 10 in the free last year.
“Derek went about his business. It was good to see where he is at,” Spurling said. “He went out and swam and did what we asked of him. He went out and won his two events and the nice thing in both os his events is we went first and second so he graduates, but the guys that were second place are juniors.”
As a junior, Sautter set the OCC record in the 100 butterfly in 53.37 then broke the school record when he swam a 51.10 at the state meet. He finished in 54.99 Saturday and swam a season-best 5:03.58 in the 500 free.
“I can’t complain about where I’m at,” Sautter said. “I’m trying to make sure that everything is in place for when the end of the season comes.
“We just got to keep doing what we’re doing and make sure the focus is all there.”
