The annual Johnson County boys swim meet doesn’t hand out a “Comeback Athlete of the Year” award.
Too bad.
Center Grove junior Raiden Finchum would be a shoo-in.
Finchum, who missed all of last season following surgery to his left knee, is competing in two individual events (200-yard individual medley, 100 breaststroke) and two relays (200 medley, 200 freestyle) at Indian Creek on Saturday.
Not only is Finchum back, he’s performing well, as the Trojans’ home dual meet against Avon earlier this week attests.
In the 200 IM, Finchum’s time of 2 minutes, 9.75 seconds was second only to teammate Alex Feitl’s winning 2:08.65. He swam second (breaststroke) in the 200 medley relay as well as the second leg of Center Grove’s 200 freestyle relay.
Compare this to Finchum’s sophomore school year in which a surgery performed September 30, 2015, preceded six weeks of having to use crutches to get around. His post-surgery routine included attending physical therapy sessions for three months.
Finchum was cleared to resume swim training at the end of March.
“I felt very sluggish and slow,” he said. “I had to keep mentally strong, but I knew it was going to be a long, slow process.”
At the time of his surgery, Finchum stood 6-foot-1 and weighed 154 pounds.
He’s since grown to 6-4, and over the course of his comeback he saw his weight climb as high as 196. Having spent so much time in the pool the past eight months, this taller version of Finchum tips the scales at a competition-ready 185 pounds.
“Raiden has worked very, very hard to get back, and he’s done well,” Center Grove coach Jim Todd said. “He was a little cautious at first, but now he’s attacking practices real well.
“We look for him to have an even better end of the season.”
As a freshman, Finchum placed eighth in the 100 breaststroke at the Franklin Sectional in 1:05.95. He came in 11th in the 200 IM in 2:08.97.
On Saturday, he’s seeking a breaststroke time in the 1:03s.
Where such a performance would place him remains to be seen, though in many respects Finchum has already won.
He’s among teammates. Swimming instead of hoping. Competing, not observing.
Finchum’s award is now.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="The Finchum file" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Raiden Finchum
Age: 17
Born: Mooresville
Family: Parents Raymond and Kari; sister Kaci, 15
Favorite TV show: “Grey’s Anatomy”
Favorite food: Club sandwich
Favorite athlete: Michael Phelps
Favorite team: Indiana University men’s swimming
[sc:pullout-text-end]
