College Recruit Rankings Profile: Five-Star Kyle Whitaker, Class of 2010

PHOENIX, Arizona, July 6. KYLE Whitaker, a five-star prospect from the Class of 2010, is next up in this year's series of Swimming World College Recruit Rankings Profiles. Whitaker swims for Chesterton High and the Duneland Swim Club.

Whitaker maintains his profile in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings powered by Take Your Marks, and would have scored points at the 2009 NCAA Division I Championships. His 400-yard IM time of 3:44.79 would have earned him a spot in B finals on the collegiate level this year.

Whitaker also would have qualified for NCAAs in the 200-yard IM with a 1:45.25 to his credit.

In long course competition, Whitaker owns five U.S. Olympic Trials cuts in the 400m free 3:59.97; 100m fly 0:54.49; 200m fly 1:59.88; 200m IM 2:01.27 and 400m IM 4:26.57.

When and where did you start swimming?
I first started swimming when I was about 5 or 6 years old. I started my career here in Chesterton, with Duneland Swim Club, and just fell in love with the sport.

Who would you name as the most influential person and coach in your swimming career?
I don't have one person, but many. My whole family is supportive. I got into swimming mostly because of my sister, Talor. She started swimming, and I would go to her practices and watch her swim. I was amazed, and realized this is something I wanted to do.

My parents are very supportive and loving, and they understand swimming too, considering both swam in college. My dad swam for Wabash College, and my mom for Ball State University. I am so thankful to have parents like them.

As for my coaches, I would have to say all of them. They have all pushed me, and have made me better over the years. My age group coach, Jim Voss, has been my age group coach since I started. He has a great staff of coaches, and a great program that has developed well.

My high school coach, and main coach now is Kevin Kinel. He has also been coaching here for almost 30 years now, and he is a great guy and coach. His relationship with swimmers and the age group coaches is outstanding. He also has a great coaching staff for our high school season, and I am so grateful to have all these people in my life helping me.

What, to this point, is your best moment in the sport and why?
I think the summer of 2007 is my greatest moment. That is the year I first got my Olympic Trials cuts, and swam nationals that summer. That was also the summer I made the National Youth Team for the first time, which was an amazing experience. I just think that was the point where I was beginning to be exposed to the national level of swimming, and it really motivated me.

Walk us through a day of practice:
Our summer practice schedule is about the same everyday, but morning practice starts at 6:30 a.m. and goes until 9 a.m. Then afternoon, or evening, is from 5 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. Depending on if it is a Tuesday or Thursday, we will have a dryland session from 3 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.

What is your favorite set?
My favorite set I'd have to say, would be working on my underwater kicking. We do a set during season of 12×75 on 1:15, where we do a 50 sprint kick on our back, then the last 25 is kick all the way underwater, trying to hold about 50 seconds on the 75s. Also, I like working on my distance freestyle too. We may do something like 4x500s or 5x400s. Holding around 4:35-4:45 and leave on 5:30.

What is your least favorite set?
I don't really have a least favorite set. I just like working hard, and getting in the right mind-set.

What are your short-term goals?
Some short-term goals, this summer I'd like to qualify for the National Team, and become more flexible because I am probably the most inflexible kid in the sport of swimming. Then, another short-term goal heading into my last high school season, break the national record again in the 200 IM, and see if we can win the state championship as a team again.

What are your long-term goals?
On the other hand, my long-term goals, of course there is the Olympic Team, and going to the Olympics. I think other goals are to swim in college, and go to college. Also, to really succeed not only in swimming, but academically.

What has the recruiting process been like so far, now that you are allowed to be called by coaches?
The recruiting process has been fun. I really like finding out what colleges have to offer, and talking with the coaches.

Is there anything else interesting that you'd like our readers to know about you?
Well, we live close to Lake Michigan, I sometimes go to the beach, and hang out with my friends on the swim team.

If I have a free weekend, I like to go paintballing with family and guys and girls from the swim team. I have two younger brothers, Aaron and Ethan, who are both 14 and swim. I like playing beach volleyball, and soccer. I played soccer since I was about 4 or 5, then had to stop for high school swimming.

RECRUITS: To make sure we have the most updated information on your recruiting, and to earn the highest star ranking you deserve, please either create a new profile, or request to take over your admin-created account in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings powered by Take Your Marks. Then make sure to update your profile with your top times. Click here for information on how to do so.

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