Kaba tops list of Yuma's best swimmers

Jake Kaba hopes he is done with the backstroke - the Cibola junior said he can't wait to move past it next year.

Of course, he's shattered the school record in the 100-yard backstroke and finished seventh at the 5A Division II State Championship in that event.

Kaba also took sixth in the state in the 100 butterfly, won the Gila Valley Region in both, and for his efforts was named The Sun/Yuma Rotary Club 2008 All-Region Boys Swimmer of the Year.

His best time in the back came at regionals, when he came in at 1 minute, 00.26 seconds.

"My season went pretty good, but it's not what I wanted to do," Kaba said. "It's actually very good for the 100 butterfly and the 100 back was okay. I'm going to look at the 100 or 200 free instead of the 100 back.

"I had been at a minute for two years (in the backstroke), and I don't like that," he said. "Being at a plateau isn't really fun, so you have to try different things to ease out of that plateau."

And if that's the weak stroke, his coach at Cibola, Richard McClure, said it's little wonder Kaba's biggest strength is his versatility.

"I know this year was frustrating for him in the backstroke," McClure said. "Not that he swam poorly - he broke our school record again this year - but I think he's just been frustrated in not seeing big drops in times.

"He's really worked on that stroke," he said. "He's not your typical backstroker in terms of being tall and lean. But his backstroke has improved, but he's plateaued there."

Kaba's best time in the 100 fly came in the qualifying round at state (56.85). He took sixth with a 56.93 in the final heat.

"I thought he'd come in and by the end of the year be swimming 57s, 58s (in the butterfly)," McClure said. "And he jumped down at state to a 56 and really did well."

And even though he's been looked at by a few small colleges already as just a junior, Kaba said he thinks focusing on the breaststroke and butterfly next year will make him more appealing to bigger collegiate programs.

"Since I can swim more things than a lot of people, it's better for me college-wise," Kaba said. "It'll add more diversity."

And now Kaba has started getting ready for next year with a goal in mind.

"I guess I'm happy with fifth place in the butterfly," said Kaba, who helped the Raiders to a ninth-place finish at state. "Hopefully, I can medal next year.

"I'm going to get it done. It's what it is," Kaba said. "As a driving force, I'd say I'm highly motivated to do all that. That's why I'm training already."