Carter Kirtz making big splash in small pool

VINTON — His high school team practices in a pool that is 80 years old and nowhere near regulation size.

And if that isn't enough of an obstacle in this day and age of new and updated aquatic facilities, Carter Kirtz commutes about 25 minutes each way every day for practice.

Despite those challenges, Kirtz, a senior at Center Point-Urbana who swims for Vinton-Shellsburg as part of a co-op agreement between the two schools, has developed into a top-level swimmer.

Some might scoff at the obstacles, which also have included COVID-19 restrictions over the past two seasons.

Not Kirtz.

“The pool at the Vinton Braille School (where the team practices) is only 20 yards and 4 lanes,” he said, “but I am so thankful to have it and finally have regular practices.”

Vikings Coach Rob Levis said his swimmers, led by Kirtz, have embraced the uniqueness of their facility.

“It’s certainly not ideal, but it enables our small communities to have the sport of swimming,” he said. “We have to lean into having an old, small pool. In some ways it’s a badge of honor. We have to find a way to overcome obstacles and not let them become excuses, so it's not worse, it's just different — water is water.”

At last season's state meet, Kirtz placed in the finals of the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing eighth in 59.64 seconds.

“I think the challenges made the finish that much sweeter,” he said. “I was very excited to have finished in the top eight. It was a very fast and competitive heat. I was glad to be there and loved the whole experience at the state meet.”

Levis got Kirtz hooked on swimming when he came to Vinton as a Boy Scout for a swimming test. Levis, in his 13th year of coaching the team, said Kirtz brings two important qualities to the pool.

“The two most obvious qualities are great talent and tremendously hard work,” Levis said. “Carter picks things up quickly and works very hard. He will do our practices and then go in and swim extra with his (Iowa City Eels) club.

“The other huge thing that he possesses is a sheer love for swimming. For a lot of kids, practice isn’t something they look forward to but rather something to endure. Carter just genuinely enjoys being in the water and that helps him put the time in.”

Levis also gives Kirtz some leeway because of the facility restrictions.

“I simply can’t work him enough in our limited practice time and space,” Levis said. “So he will do extra work with his club. He has good club coaches that work with him year-round.

“And it’s a credit to his character that he is a leader and at every practice even though frankly he could get a better workout at times breaking away from the team and working on his own elsewhere. But he understands he is a leader and has to be present with his teammates to lead and make our team better.”

Kirtz is ranked No. 9 in the 100 breaststroke this season. He said he looks at the rankings and knows most of those who placed ahead of him at state last year are back.

“I know we are all going to drop times, so it will be a really fast race at state,” he said.

College swimming is in Kirtz's future. He wants to study mechanical engineering so he is looking at schools that can offer him opportunities in both.

Levis said the school that lands Kirtz will be getting a model student-athlete.

“He is an exceptional young man, a perfect 4.0 student, an Eagle Scout and has great character,” Levis said. “Wherever he ends up swimming in college they are going to get a great one, a guy who will be a great student, great teammate, work super hard and has room to get even better.”