Many swimmers can compete in a variety of events. Among those, there are some who can excel in multiple strokes. And then there is multi-event record-setter Peter Horan, who can jump in and try a completely unfamiliar event for a change of pace — and nearly break the team record in the process.

Horan, who already holds or is part of four Newtown High School pool records and two team standards, came within a little more than a second of Dawson Stout’s 100 yard butterfly pool record time of 53.34 seconds — which has stood since 2017 — during Newtown’s 97-67 win over visiting Bunnell-Stratford on February 14. Horan finished in 54.76, 12 seconds faster than any of the swimmers in the other four lanes.

“We knew he would have a fast time. That’s a great time for mid-season with no experience swimming that event,” Newtown Coach Ryan Eberts said.

Newtown still has a month-plus of swimming to go with one more regular-season meet followed by the postseason. Who knows what’s in store for Horan, a senior who is committed to West Virginia University.

After one of his race wins on February 14, Horan extended his arm to an opposing swimmer to congratulate him on a good swim. The friendly approach — as competitive as Horan may be — starts well before the end of a race.

Asked about his favorite part about swimming, Horan said: “I just like being social. It’s fun racing against everybody else, too. I try making friends before competing. It’s good to get some good sportsmanship going — it just calms me down.”

Horan must be pretty calm all the time. He regularly posts best times in his events. A backstroke and freestyle specialist, Horan helped Newtown’s 200 medley relay team place first in the Bunnell-Stratford meet in a time of 1:55.59. He anchored the 200 free relay, which was first in 1:39.58, and also swam the last leg of the 400 free relay, which was first in 3:48.05.

Newtown’s record board has his name all over it. Horan holds the following NHS pool records: 100 yard freestyle, 50 free, and backstroke. Additionally, he is part of the 200 free relay pool record-setting group and Horan holds the team record in the 50 and backstroke races.

“He’s extremely versatile. He’s just good in the water. He has tremendous feel for the water. He has a tremendous sense of pace so he can swim any event and be one of the best,” Eberts said.

Horan has been swimming for about a dozen years, following in the path (or pool lane) of his older brother Tommy and dad, Tom, who coached his children as they made strides in their younger years. Tommy was also a standout at NHS and had broken the 50 free team record back in 2017. Peter Horan trains to be the best he can in the backstroke and in freestyle events, but enjoys the change-of-pace opportunity such as that butterfly race.

“It’s tough but it’s fun because I don’t get to do it a lot — good to mix it up,” he said.

And even better when he wins.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.