Toast of the Coast: North Myrtle Beach’s Bryan chasing big goals in pool

Mason Bryan knows the record is within reach.

Yet his goals are much larger.

The North Myrtle Beach junior swimmer won a state championship in the 100 backstroke (51.59) for the second consecutive season, coming less than a second from the state record (50.70), and has one season left to go after the mark.

But The Sun News Toast of the Coast Boys Swimmer of the Year said his biggest goal is to improve all around.

“That [record] is a good goal to have, but that’s just in the backstroke. I’m trying to be more than just a backstroker,” Bryan said. “My overall goal is to just improve as a swimmer and athlete in general. It’d be really cool to break that record but that’s not the main goal.”

Still, his larger goal could ultimately lead to the state record.

“He’s going to set the state record next year,” Chiefs coach Julie Helgerson said. “He will set it next year, I don’t doubt it. … He has less than a second to drop; that’s not even half of a kick. So that’s a very feasible goal for him to have.”

Bryan also finished third in the 200 individual medley (1:58.10) and was member of Chiefs’ ninth-place 200 medley (1:45.42) and 10th-place 400 freestyle (3:36.53) relay teams.

He did all that while competing in high school and for the Coastal Aquatic Club simultaneously, requiring swimming’s version of two-a-days when it comes to practicing.

“It was definitely hard,” Bryan said. “The hardest part is just waking up in the morning. But I’ve been doing that since eighth grade so now it’s just a daily routine you go through.”

Bryan also excels in the classroom. He’s enrolled in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program at the Academy for the Arts, Science and Technology.

In the pool, Bryan doesn’t hesitate to help the younger swimmers, Helgerson said. She lauds his humility and willingness to take extra time to work less-experienced athletes in practice.

“He’s an amazing teammate. In practice he works with the younger swimmers a lot. He’ll take them into a separate lane and work with them individually and then cheer them on,” Helgerson said. “I find that admirable.”

Bryan competes in national meets throughout the year and plans to continue swimming after high school. He’s working to be in a position to have his choice of schools.

“College is the big motivator. It sets the bar high,” Bryan said. “I have a general idea of where I need to be – not just to feel successful – but to do well enough where I can go to a school I want to go. I’d say that’s the biggest thing. College is what’s setting the bar now.”

Until then, there’s plenty of time to get better in the pool. Helgerson believes that’s inevitable.

“It’s easy for him. To watch him swim, it’s like he’s barely moving in the water,” she said. “His stroke is so refined that he makes it look so easy. He’s blazing. He’s a really fun swimmer to watch.”

As for that state record push? He’s shooting for more than that.

“He’s just such a phenomenal swimmer,” Helgerson said. “I can easily see him shattering records in other strokes as well.”

This story was originally published December 23, 2014 at 7:49 PM with the headline "Toast of the Coast: North Myrtle Beach’s Bryan chasing big goals in pool."