Lakeland High School swim teams will have one representative at the Class 3 state meet in Colton Brown.

For the fourth straight year, Colton Brown will get a chance to compete in the Class 3 state meet as the lone representative for Lakeland this season. At the Class 3A region meet, Brown swam well in the 200 free and the 500 free individual events, earning state meet qualifications in both events.

Heading into the region meet, Brown felt good about his opportunity to qualify for the fourth straight time.

“I feel good about qualifying, since I was able to do so my previous three years,” Brown said. “I was a little nervous about not qualifying, because since I was put in the C heats, I knew I was going to have to race myself and see if the times were going to be good enough to beat the heats after me.”

Brown has always been a standout swimmer for Lakeland; he holds school records in four events including the 200 free, 400 free, 500 free and 100 fly. At the forthcoming Class 3 state meet, Brown wants to continue to keep practicing hard.

“I think really all I need to keep doing and putting in the time and intensity at practice,” Brown said. “I know that my coaches will continue to help me get faster times for the meet.”

The Lakeland swimmer said he felt he has learned a lot as a senior this season. He feels he has grown as a person and as an athlete, with hopes to continue swimming in college.

“I think my senior season has taught me a lot,” Brown said. “With my final year almost being done, I look forward to possibly playing in college as well. I also look forward seeing some of the newer swimmers this year getting better and faster. Some of them have so much potential, and in time, I feel like they will be some amazing swimmers.”

“He has done great this season,” Coach Kelie Garrett said. “He took the time to learn from new coaches and worked hard during and after practice. We were very excited about his state placement.”

Brown will compete in the Class 3 state meet on Feb. 21.