Promising Seniors-To-Be 2007: Colin Cordes

PHOENIX, Arizona, May 31. COLIN Cordes, who swims for Keith MacDonald at Glenbrook South High in Glenview, Ill., and Vladimir Pyshnenko at the Northbrook Spartan Swim Club in Northbrook, Ill., is the next person in our Promising Seniors-To-Be series on SwimmingWorldMagazine.com.

As of the May 24 National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) release of All-American candidates, Cordes clocked the sixth-best time in the 100 free with a 45.13. That effort put him third among juniors behind only Jimmy Feigen's 44.83 and Brian Alden's 44.86. Cordes also clocked a 51.23 in the 100 back to make the applicant list in that event as well.

Cordes, who just finished his junior year in high school, sat down with SwimmingWorldMagazine.com to chat with us about his swimming career.

Was there a watershed mark in your career that made it clear you had a gift for the sport and could achieve big things?
It became apparent to me that I had a gift in swimming when I placed sixth in the 200 meter back at Junior Nationals over the summer. I had just turned 16, and my time was only a second and a half off the Olympic Trials cut. I realized that I had what it takes to compete with some of the fastest kids in the nation.

What type of interaction do you have with your coach when it comes to training? What kind of input do you have?
I feel that I have a very good interaction with my coach. My coach and I are able to joke around a lot, but when it is time to get serious, we are able to do so.

What are your goals for your senior season?
My goal for my senior season is to win two events at the Illinois High School State Meet and be a part of a championship relay team. I'd also like to place top three in the state as a team.

Who has made the biggest impact on your swimming career to this point?
So far, my coach Vlad has made the biggest impact on my swimming. He is an Olympic gold medalist from Russia, and he has been able to use his experience to help my swimming. He has a lot of knowledge about swimming and I have benefited greatly from it.

Have you verbally committed to any University? If so, which one and why? If not, who is in your top five and why?
I have not verbally committed to any colleges yet. My top five choices would be Stanford, Northwestern, Princeton, Auburn and Texas. I am looking for a combination of academics and swimming and I feel that these would fit me the best.

What has the recruiting process been like for you?
So far I've received letters and e-mails. I've also gone on a couple unofficial visits to several colleges.

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