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Relatively speaking, Dunton right at home swimming at Keene State
KEENE, N.H. 1/11/12 – Randy Dunton didn’t travel with his Keene State swim team when they left for their training trip to Florida last week. He didn’t have to. Already home for the holiday break in Saint Cloud, Fla., the sophomore just had to hop into the car with his parents, Bruce and Nancy, and drive the three hours from their home in central Florida to the team’s training site at the St. Andrews School in Boca Raton.
“At first, it was strange being back in Florida with my team, but it was a lot of fun,” said Dunton.
Turnaround is fair play as far as Dunton is concerned. Competing at the MIT Winter Invitational just before the break, Dunton said his teammates were giving him a hard time because he’d never been to Boston and didn’t know my way around the city. “Now the shoe was on the other foot,” he said. “I was the only one who knew my way around here.”
Dunton might have been unfamiliar with Boston, but he sure knew a lot about the Monadnock region before deciding to enroll at Keene State this fall. Both of Duntons’ parents grew up in Keene and were high school sweethearts, KHS class of ’82.
“I think that had a little bearing on him coming to Keene State,” said Bruce Dunton, who moved to Florida with his wife when her parents retired. “I can’t wait to get back up there. I like my four seasons.”
Dunton’s parents might still be in Florida, but Randy won’t be lacking for family while attending Keene State. His father’s family is still in the area, including an aunt and uncle, Lisa and Jim Dunton of Fitzwilliam “I usually go over to my aunt and uncle’s house when I need a good home-cooked meal,” said Dunton.
Dunton also has relatives living outside of Worcester in Northbridge, Mass., and a cousin, Cote Lagerberg, who also attends KSC. When he’s on campus, he can visit Irma Randall, his mother’s aunt, who works in the dining commons.
In Florida, Dunton got a chance to spend some time with his Aunt Lou (Randall) Abbott. Abbot also grew up in Keene and graduated from KHS in 1978. Before entering the military and moving down to Florida, Abbot played in the Keene softball league with current KSC assistant coach Deb Beach and played for Sherry Bovinet a former KSC coach and head athletic trainer.
Since moving to Florida, Abbott has become a recognized swimming coach, working with the local aquatics program and the Saint Cloud High School girls team. She also began coaching Randy, taking him and his older sister, Tanya, to Sweden, where at the age of 12, he finished third and earned a medal in the 50 backstroke at the Sweden Games.
Competing in the State Games of America since 2003, Randy, who was home schooled, also swam four years at St. Cloud High, where he was a three-time team captain and placed fourth in the 100 back at the Florida High School Swimming Association meet.
After spending last year at Valencia Community College, where he earned an associate’s degree, Dunton decided to look at four-year schools.
Dunton said he always like the Keene area when he came up for family holidays and wondered what it would be like to live there for the entire year. Contacting Owls coach Jack Fabian, Dunton decided to return to his family’s roots and attend Keene State.
Dunton has acclimated well to Keene State and has been a key addition to the Owls’ nationally ranked swim team. He posted wins in the 100 back and 200 I.M. in a dual meet against Springfield and Wheaton, and swam to a first-place finish in the 100 back against Tufts. “Randy has been a huge contributor,” said Fabian. “He not only does the backstroke, but is very competitive in the fly, breast, and the 200 I.M. He’s been a great addition to the program.”
“I’m real happy with my swimming. All my times have been dropping,” said Dunton, who hopes to do well at the New England championships and possibly qualify for the NCAA meet.
The most difficult transition for Dunton might be acclimating to the cold New England weather. Training in Florida last week, Dunton and the Owls experienced a couple of days of unseasonably cold weather with temperatures dipping into the high thirties. “I tried to warn everyone to pack some warmer clothes, but a lot of the guys didn’t listen to me,” said Dunton. “I might not know Boston, but I do know Florida.”
