TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

High Expectations

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Blue Streak junior Megan Wolfe was undefeated in all individual events through the Class 2A-District 7 finals to earn her swimmer of the year honors.

ADVERTISEMENT

By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: January 8, 2008

SEBRING –– Olympic glory and getting the honor of being on the podium as the gold medal is placed around your neck is a dream that Sebring's Megan Wolfe is determined to make a reality.

The Blue Streak's dream has become more like a passion –– an obsession –– with hours upon hours netted in the pool to hone her skills to their absolute peak.

The fruits of her labor, she hopes could be a trip to Omaha and the U.S. Olympic Trials next summer.

"I've wanted [Olympics] for a long time," Wolfe said. "I know what I've got to do to get there. Now, I have to put in the time and dedicate myself."

A chance meeting with Winter Haven native and 1984 Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines lit the fire that burns today.

"After meeting [Rowdy], I told myself that I wanted one of those medals," Wolfe said.

That determination and her total domination in the pool –– undefeated in all individual events through the Class 2A-District 7 finals –– made Wolfe an easy choice as the 2007 Highlands Today All-Heartland Girls Swimmer of the Year.

Wolfe, who holds six individual and three county records, shined in the 50-yard freestyle this season, posting a 24.66 at the Class 2A state swim championships, which was good enough for seventh place.

Seminole sophomore Kaitlin Frehling took first with a time of 23.46 –– a pace Wolfe wants to equal and surpass in the coming months.

"I'm determined to break 23 seconds," the SHS junior said. "Not many people know that I swam with a knee injury since districts."

Even with the knee injury, which prevented her from getting the proper push-off during the turns, Wolfe still placed third at the Region 3 finals, with a time of 24.65 to move on to the state championships.

"She is one of the most dedicated athletes [regardless of gender and sport]," said Avon Park swimming coach Jessica Thayer.

Megan's father Marvin, who taught her daughter to swim at a young age, has been proud in seeing her maturation in the pool and her dedication to the sport.

"She's been competing since she was four years old," he said. "She has high expectations for herself, and I think that natural ability and drive has served her well."

With a full slate of training and working to get her knee back in shape, Wolfe hopes she can make the trek from small town to the Olympic stage just as Gaines did 23 years ago.

"I have the confidence in knowing I'll break the 23-second barrier before the summer," Wolfe said. "I really want to compete at the trials even if I don't make it this Olympics. I just want to compete against the best."

The Team

Danielle Rivers, senior, Lake Placid –– Voted as the Green Dragons "Team Choice" for her leadership and team building skills, Rivers rose to elite status in

'07 with her success in the freestyle and relay events. Showing the heart and dedication needed to compete at the highest level, the LP senior finished first in the 50-yard freestyle (27.27) and second in the 100-yard freestyle (1:01.61) at the district meet and qualifying for regionals in both events, along with the 200-yard medley and 200-freestyle relay teams despite having nagging knee problems.

"She is really a team player and did a lot to help the team out this year," LP swim coach Cindy Rivers said.

"She really developed her leadership skills and learned what it was like to take charge."

Heather Barnes, senior, Avon Park –– A natural athlete. Barnes has excelled in every sport she's tried, showing her versatility in the pool during her senior campaign.

"Heather was just a pleasure to coach," AP swim coach Jessica Thayer said. "She did everything we asked her to do and then some."

Barnes, who earned girls diver of the year honors, was an intricate part of the Red Devil 200-yard medley and freestyle relay teams, both finished fourth at districts. The AP senior, who has signed a scholarship to play softball for the Stetson Hatters in the fall, also had a top-ten finish in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:27.51).

Leeza Freeland, senior, Sebring ––Leadership and setting a good example to the underclassman was a quality exemplified by this Blue Streak senior.

Freeland, who was named the 2006 Swimmer of the Year, improved greatly in her signature event –– 100-yard butterfly –– where she placed third (1:05.29) at districts and sixth at regionals (1:04.26) along with taking second as a member of the 200 and 400-yard freestyle and the 200-yard medley relay teams, qualifying for the state tournament in the latter event.

"The younger swimmers really looked up to her," Caton said. "She was an all around good person and a really strong swimmer."

Chelsea McGuire, senior, Lake Placid –– After taking a break from competitive swimming for the past two years, this LP senior didn't' miss a beat after her return to the pool.

McGuire, who came in as a freshman with so much promise, placed in the top five in two individual events –– second in 200-yard individual medley (2:40) and fifth in the 100-butterfly (1:10.72) –– at districts and qualified for regionals in both events.

She was also a member of the 200-yard medley relay team and the 200-yard freestyle relay team that placed second at districts in both events and finished sixth in the freestyle relay at regionals.

"I wished I had Chelsea all four years," Coach Rivers said. "No doubt in my mind that she'd have broken a number of records before her career was over. She was just an outstanding and natural swimmer."

Megan Richardson, junior, Avon Park –– An honorable mention selection in '06, Richardson showed her versatility in the pool, qualifying for regionals with a fourth place finish in the 200-yard individual medley (2:51.34) at districts.

"Megan continued to get better with each meet," Coach Thayer said. "She's as dedicated as any of my swimmers and will only get better next season."

Katie Bullard, senior, Sebring –– Finishing her senior season strong, Bullard placed fifth in the 200-yard freestyle at districts (1:05.29) and was a member of the second place 200-yard medley relay that qualified fourth at regionals. The Blue Streak senior's shining achievement was being a member of the state qualifying 200-yard freestyle relay squad.

Marbelly Creel, junior, Lake Placid –– The Creel name is legendary in the water for Lake Placid, with Marbelly's dad Tom schooling the boys swim team and brother's and sisters earning accolades as Green Dragons swimmers. It was no doubt that Marbelly would continue the Creel tradition of excellence in the pool.

Marbelly had a pair of top-ten finishes at districts, placing fifth in the 200-yard individual medley (2:53.21) and seventh in the 100-yard butterfly (1:16.51), while also a member of the 200-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle relay teams.

"I'm expecting her to be one of our leaders next season," Coach Rivers said. "Along with Tammi [Beach], she is going to anchor the girls and be a force for us."

Brittany Murphy, junior, Avon Park –– One of the core upperclassmen going into next season along with Richardson, this AP junior placed in the top 10 in four events at districts, including fifth in the 50-yard freestyle (29.38) and sixth in the grueling 500-yard freestyle (6:49.71), as well as a member of the fourth place Red Devil 200-yard medley and freestyle relay teams. Murphy qualified for regionals in all four events and should be one of the top swimmers in the Heartland heading into her senior year.

Katie Havery, junior, Sebring –– With freestyle being her strongest events, Havery improved in her junior season, finishing eighth in the 100-yard freestyle (1:03.10) and was an intricate piece on the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relay teams. Her tenacity compliments Wolfe as a powerful one/two punch for the Streaks.

Shelby Lambert, senior, Lake Placid –– A standout since her freshman year, Lambert made her mark in her senior season.

"She was a leader in and out of the pool, always willing to help the younger swimmers get better," Coach Rivers said. "Shelby worked as hard as anyone and put out 100 percent every time in the pool."

Lambert qualified for regionals in two individual events –– a pair of fifth place finishes in the 500-yard freestyle (6:43) and the 100-yard backstroke (1:17.51) –– and finished fourth as a member of the 400-yard freestyle relay team at districts.

Tammi Beach, sophomore, Lake Placid –– One of the underclassmen that the Green Dragons will surely look to next season for leadership, Beach had continued to improve in her two season swimming for Lake Placid.

"What I like about Tammi is that she's a versatile swimmer," Coach Rivers said. "I'm excited about having her for two more years and what she'll be able to accomplished if she does what she's asked. She's one to keep an eye on."

An almost definite successor for Danielle in the freestyle events, the LP sophomore finished third in the 200-yard freestyle (2:15.65) to qualify for regionals, while placing sixth in the 100-yard backstroke (1:17.54) at districts, while also a member of the Green Dragon 200 and 400-yard freestyle relay teams.

A swimmer to keep an eye on in '08.

Coach of the Year

Lake Placid has a tradition of excellence and domination in the pool around the Heartland. Coming into 2007, the Green Dragons were expected to have a down year, but the LP boys won the Class 1A-District 5 title for a second straight year, while the girls finished runner up.

For keeping the Green Dragons focused and guiding a young swim team to such heights, Lake Placid's Cindy Rivers has been named Highlands Today's 2007 Swimming Coach of the Year.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT