At home in the water Iowa City High's Herting can't stay away from the pool

By John RiehlThe Gazette john.riehl@gazettecommunications.comIOWA CITY - Cameron Herting is a gamer.A typical practice day for the Iowa City High sophomore swimmer consists of about 10,000 yards in the pool, and that's because his coach, John Burkle, tells him to get out."I have to pull him back sometimes. He just wants to go after everything, but why beat yourself up today when you race tomorrow," Burkle said. "He studies his competition. He can rattle off (defending state champion) Cedar Rapids Washington's times off the top of his head. He's a competitor."As a club swimmer for the Iowa City Eels, Herting's races of choice are the mile and 1,000. So he has to come down in distance to swim at the high school level.Last season, as a freshman, Herting specialized in the 200 and 500 freestyles. He qualified for state in both events, placing third in the 500 and sixth in the 200."We were expecting top-six (finishes) and hoping for top three or top two," Burkle said. "What he got was great. He went back to work the next day for the next season."Staying out of the pool for more than a day or two is virtually impossible for Herting, anyway."I love this sport. It's one of the biggest parts of my life," Herting said."I've done it for so long with club and now with high school. If I have to take a break with it, I can only go a couple days before I absolutely have to get in the pool."Herting's goal in the 500 is to chase down Cedar Falls senior Brian Verink and Ames senior Scott Strehlow, who finished 1-2, respectively, at state last season.Herting finished just over five seconds behind Verink. That gap could close this season."I really, really want to win state in the 500 this year," Herting said. "It's been a goal of mine since I was a little kid growing up and people on my club team were swimming in high school. I've always wanted to win a state title."Little Hawk teammates Kanoe Russell and Theo Coyne push Herting and make practice as competitive as meets some days.During the summer club season, Herting trains with college swimmers."If you have to do a set by yourself, you have to be able to push yourself and race the clock. I like to race other people instead of just the clock," Herting said. "You can't beat the block, but you beat someone else."In the pool during competitions, Herting finds strength within himself to push through his long-distance races."It feels to me that once I hit a point in the race, I'm in a zone," Herting said. "All I'm focused on doing is swimming that race. My body is in sync with my mind and I keep going."Contact the writer: (319) 339-3177 or john.riehl@gazcomm.com