Here today, gone tomorrow

HUDSON -- Hudson's Joe Hroma stood poised on a starting block at the New Port Richey pool.

His mission: to win his first 100-yard butterfly race by taking on Pasco's Brett Clark, the county's fastest swimmer in that event and last year's Times All-Pasco County Boys Swimmer of the Year.

Hroma bested Clark in that Nov. 2 race -- 55.02 seconds to 56.37 -- for the Sunshine Athletic Conference title. That marked one of two county records set that day by Hroma, who also swam the 200 freestyle in 1:52.07.

Without Clark pushing him at the Class 2A, District 5 meet (Pasco competed in the A-5 meet at Winter Haven), Hroma won a district title with a slower 100 fly time (56.51). He also won a district championship in the 200 individual medley (2:05.56).

Hroma also placed sixth in the 100 fly (53.87) and seventh in the 200 IM (2:01.51) at the state meet. No other county boy placed higher, but Hroma was disappointed.

"I went down there pretty confident that I could pull it out," Hroma said of his goal of winning a state championship.

At one point this season, Hroma owned the county's top times in seven events.

Those achievements notwithstanding, beating Clark in November made Hroma's season.

"That was a pretty intense race," Hroma said. "I didn't know I had it until I touched the wall.

"It's the first time I ever won a conference championship. It makes you feel like you've accomplished a little bit more."

A senior transfer from Indiana whose parents divorced when he was 6, Hroma spent the past semester living with his mother, Janice Rodriguez, and her husband Samuel in Hudson.

On Saturday, Hroma arrived at his father's home in Chesterton, Ind., for a holiday visit, saying he missed his old friends and is unsure if he will return to Florida.

"I kind of like it back here," he said, adding that a decision will be made after Christmas.

"Some days he's happy to be (in Florida)," Hroma's mother said, "other days he misses his old friends and wants to go back."

Rather than dwell on her son's decision, Rodriguez warmed to the memory of watching the dual-sport athlete compete in swimming and cross country.

"We went to every swim meet and every cross-country meet. We didn't miss one," Rodriguez said.

Hroma had never run cross country before this season. He often placed in the middle of the pack, adding that the more important benefit was that running gave him a stronger kick in the water.

"I really wasn't concerned about cross country at all," Hroma said. "I was doing it to keep my legs in shape for swimming. I think this year I had a better kick than I ever had."

A veteran of three state meets in Indiana, Hroma led the Cobras with a solid work ethic and helped teammates improve. Hudson coach Julie Heise refered to Hroma as an assistant coach. Hroma aims to continue swimming at the next level and already has visited Southern Connecticut State. He also plans to visit Evansville and Duquesne before making a decision about returning to Florida.

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