Promising Seniors-To-Be 2007: Allison Schmitt

PHOENIX, Arizona, May 14. ALLISON Schmitt, who swims for Molly Raines at Canton High and under the direction of Bob Bowman at Club Wolverine, is the next swimmer to be profiled in our Promising Seniors-To-Be series on SwimmingWorldMagazine.com.

As of the May 4 National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) release of All-American candidates, Schmitt is tied for fourth in the nation in the 200 free (1:47.54) and owns seventh in the 500 free (4:50.79). She also put times of 23.76 (50 free), 50.98 (100 free) and 57.13 (100 fly) on the list.

Here is our interview with Schmitt:

Was there a watershed mark in your career that made it clear you had a gift for the sport and could achieve big thing?
I took more than five seconds off my best 200 free time at the NCSA Junior National meet in Orlando in March 2006. I used that meet as my springboard to make the National Junior team and the Pan Am team during the long course season.

What type of interaction do you have with your coach when it comes to training? What kind of input do you have?
I have been fortunate to have great coaches at Ann Arbor Swim Club, Canton High School, and now Club Wolverine. I joke and laugh with them, but when they give me ways to improve my swimming. I just listen and do my best to implement their techniques.

What are your goals for your senior season?
I want to provide leadership as a team captain at Canton High School so we can keep improving as a team. My twin sisters will be freshmen on the team and I want to enjoy the experience of swimming with them – hopefully on a relay team. Individually, I would like to swim some best times and see where that takes me. In Michigan, girls high school swimming is a fall sport that ends around Thanksgiving. Then, my focus will be on the Olympic Trials in Omaha.

Who has made the biggest impact on your swimming career to this point?
My parents, Gail and Ralph, have been very supportive of my swimming and that is most important to me. I have a brother and three sisters who also have been there for me. I draw a lot of energy from my teammates and the many other swimmers I have been fortunate to meet.

Have you verbally committed to any University? If so, which one and why? If not, who is in your top five and why?
I am gathering information on schools that can help me realize my potential as a student and an athlete. I will use the summer to narrow my choices and then use my official visits to decide where I would like to attend school.

What has the recruiting process been like for you?
It is still pretty early in the process. I receive mail from different schools, but I am looking forward to talking with some coaches after July 1. It should be exciting!

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x