The Davie swim program appears to have a budding superstar in Quin Holland. The sophomore bagged two gold medals in the Central Piedmont Conference championship meet at Winston-Salem State on Jan. 20.
But it was actually just another day at the office for Holland, who hasn’t lost in the 200 free and 100 backstroke all season.
In the wake of his spectacular showing, the soft-spoken Holland, who earned co-swimmer of the year in the CPC, could not have been more low-key.
When asked why he didn’t swim for Davie as a freshman (he swims year-round for the Rowan Aquatic Club at the Salisbury YMCA), Holland said: “I just didn’t feel like swimming (for Davie) last year at all. I paid more attention to my year-round swimming.”
When asked why he changed his mind and joined Davie this year, he said: “Something to do. Try something new.”
Holland’s first-place time in the 200 free was 1:52.41. Reynolds junior O’Neill Caron was a distant second (1:55.01).
Holland won the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.76.
Holland said he’s going into the regional with absolutely no expectations. He’s just going to swim and see what happens.
“I have no clue, to be honest with you,” he said when asked about his chances. “I have never been to regionals or states. I don’t know what to expect. I’m just going to have fun. I don’t get too worried about this stuff. I just do what I can do.”
Here is coach Cass Jones’ take on Holland’s easy-going personality:  
“He’s pretty laidback,” the second-year Davie coach said. “But he works hard for it. He’s been swimming for a long time. He finally found a coach who is inspiring him (at the Salisbury Y). Instead of just swimming, now he’s swimming to win. He’s only been to a couple (Davie) practices because he goes to his year-round practices. I’d love to take credit for his success. I did hook him up with the coach he’s with. I’ll take credit for that.”
Jones doesn’t know what to expect in the regional, either. But it would be hard to imagine Holland not at least qualifying for the state.
“I think he has a really good chance because he’s really turning into a competitor, and he really has a great desire to be the first one in,” she said. “But I don’t know what’s happening in the rest of the region.”
The top two in each event made the all-CPC team. Freshman Jacob Sink just missed in two events, finishing third in the 100 butterfly and the 500 free.
Senior Thomas O’Brien, freshman Nick Sinopoli, Sink and Holland finished third in the 400 free relay.
“(Sink) did a great job,” Jones said. “He’s got a lot of promise. He’s got a lot of good years ahead of him …