For every successful sports program, there has to be a first. For Greene, who have ruled boys’ swimming in the Midstate Athletic Conference for half a decade and currently hold a 48-meet unbeaten streak, this particular first was a long time in coming.

George Flanagan, a senior on the Trojans, has sports, athletics, competition, and his future plans all in perspective. He also happens to be one of the standout performers among all Class C swimmers in Section IV. A returning Class C sectional champion, the tall, lanky Greene athlete finished his MAC career with another typical performance. Coming off a bad ankle sprain that limited his participation in meets for several weeks, Flanagan was back to his old self last weekend. He won two events, the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard breaststroke, was part of the winning 200-yard medley relay, and took part in the second-place 200-yard freestyle relay as Greene captured the MAC Championships by 33 points.

Even though many great athletes have graced the pool under the Greene banner over the past several years, Flanagan is our first Trojans swimmer on the boys’ team to earn our weekly honor as Evening Sun/Smith Ford LLC Athlete of the Week.

At 6-foot-5, Flanagan cuts an imposing figure as he steps on to the pool deck in preparation for a meet. Opponents may be intimidated, but Flanagan – whose approach to sports is different than most – finds the inner competition against himself more satisfying.