College Recruit Rankings Profile: Five-Star Ellen Lobb, Class of 2010

PHOENIX, Arizona, August 5. ELLEN Lobb, a five-star prospect from the Class of 2010, is the next subject in this summer's series of Swimming World College Recruit Rankings Profiles. Lobb is located in Houston, Texas. She preps at Clear Lake High and swims for Cypress Fairbanks Swim Club.

Lobb maintains her profile in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings powered by Take Your Marks, and should make an impact in the backstroke and butterfly events at the next level.

Lobb's top times are all long course: 100m back 1:03.73; 200m back 2:16.53; 100m fly 1:02.36.

When and where did you start swimming?
I started summer league swimming after kindergarten. It was a local program that practiced at a pool about 3 minutes from my house. I liked it right away. I started club swimming at 9 or 10.

Who would you name as the most influential person and coach in your swimming career?
Definitely my current club coach, Clayton Cagle. I came to Coach Cagle during a really rough time in my swimming career, and he completely turned my outlook on life and swimming around. I wasn't used to having a personal relationship with a coach, and I realized this helped my swimming. He helped me to love swimming again.

What, to this point, is your best moment in the sport and why?
Getting my first Olympic Trial cut! A close teammate and I were both going for our cuts in the 100 back. My heat was up first, and he was swimming in the next heat. As soon as I finished and saw I had gotten the cut, I immediately ran behind his lane. I think I was more nervous for him then I was for myself. He swam his race and got the cut as well. We both were screaming and hugging and were so happy it finally happened.

Walk us through a day of practice:
During the summer, I wake up 5 in the morning, and then drive to meet the other 4 kids in my carpool at our daily meeting spot. The five of us load into the car of whoever is driving that day and proceed to drive the hour long ride to our 6:15 am practice in Cypress, Texas. We do team stretching till 6:30 then swim until 8:30. After morning practice we do dry land/circuit training until around 9. Then my carpool and I load back up and drive down the road to a local apartment complex that allows us to crash in their media room in between practices. We watch movies, but usually just pass out! At 3:00 pm we leave and head back to the pool for afternoon practice from 3:15 to 6:30. We load up one more time then make the hour long trek back home for the night.

What is your favorite set?
We call it the "Michael Phelps kick set." We do it in either short course meters or long course meters. It's a set of 25 50s. The pattern goes like this: one 50 easy, one 50 medium, one 50 hard. Then one 50 easy, one 50 medium, two 50s hard. This pattern continues until you build up to 5 50s hard on 45 seconds.

What is your least favorite set?
40 x 100s. Long course. The point of the set is to progressively build speed while the interval gets faster. The intervals change based on what lane you're in, but it typically looks like the first 10 on 1:30, then the next 20 on 1:20, and the last 10 on 1:10. It's all mental when you finally get to the last 10.

What are your short-term goals?
Find a college where I can get a great education, swim fast, and fit in well with the team. Oh, and learn how to swim breaststroke!

What are your long-term goals?
Qualify for NCAAs and make a national team.

What colleges are you interested in so far?
I'm still researching colleges that fit both what I'm looking for academically and in a swim program. It's a bit overwhelming to narrow down my choices to just a few schools, but this is something my parents and I are working on.

What has the recruiting process been like so far, now that you are allowed to be called by coaches?
I was nervous in the beginning because I thought it would be awkward, but then I realized they are just trying to get to know me and I'm trying to get to know them and it's really not that bad at all.

Is there anything else interesting that you'd like our readers to know about you?
I tried out every sport in middle school, but realized that I wasn't really into contact sports like basketball, so I stuck with swimming. Also, I'm an only child so it's really easy for me to meet new people and I like to talk.

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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