TYR® AGE GROUP SWIMMERS OF THE MONTH
Sherrill Thompson
Age 13, Texas Gold Swimming, Pflugerville, Texas
Thirteen-year-old Sherrill Thompson of Gold Coast Swimming has many of the same goals as other up-and-coming age-group swimmers. She dreams of one day being a member of the Olympic team, and she hopes to have the opportunity to swim at the collegiate level for swimming powerhouses such as Stanford or Auburn.
But one goal that Sherrill has stands out among the others. She wants to qualify for senior national cuts in every distance of every stroke. This may seem an impossible feat to many swimmers, but SherrilPs accomplishments so far testify that she may be on her way to achieving that goal.
At age 7, Sherrill began swimming year-round, and a year later she joined Texas Gold Swimming and began training under Coach Aubrey Knapper. At the 2002 Texas Age Group Championships, 10-year-old Sherrill won five of her seven events. She finished the season with six NAG Top 16 times.
Two years later, at the 2004 Short Course TAGS, Sherrill was still the one to beat. She won all of her individual events with NAG Top 16 times, including the 50 yard free (24.52), 100 free (52.79), 200 free (1:54.58), 500 free (5:04.03), 50 fly (26.35), 100 fly (57.96) and 200 fly (2:06.36). She was named Outstanding Female Swimmer of the Meet.
In May, Sherrill aged-up to the 13-14s, leaving behind 15 South Texas records, four TAGS meet marks and two state standards.
Thomas Inwood
Age 14, University Swim Club, Shaker Heights, Ohio
Thomas Inwood of the University Swim Club in Shaker Heights, Ohio, has been swimming competitively for four years and has become one of the top 13-14-year-olds in the state.
In January, Thomas got the year started by winning the 13-14 boys 500 yard free, 1650 free and 200 IM at the Annual Quad Meet held in Indianapolis.
In March, at the Uke Erie District Short Course Championships held at Cleveland State University, Thomas was victorious in seven of eight individual events. He swept the middle/long distance freestyle races, winning the 200 (1:47.62), 500 (4:48.49), 1000 (10:01.98) and 1650 (16:54.01). Thomas also dominated the IM, winning the 200 in 2:01.23 and the 400 with a time of 4:23.56. He also placed first in the 200 breast with a 2:23.53 and was third in the 200 fly. Little wonder that he captured the 13-14 boys’ High-Point Award.
So far this year, Thomas has swum NAG Top 16 times in the 500, 1000 and 1650 yard freestyles, which also qualified him for the Spring sectional Championships.
At the Sectional Championships, March 18-21, at Miami University of Ohio, Thomas swam to a top-16 finish in the 400 meter free (4:15.62), 800 free (8:58.91) and 1500 free (17:21.63).
Candidates for “Age Group Swimmers of the Month” must compete within a nationally recognized age group. Please send a personality sketch and a color photograph or slide (a face shot, such as a school picture) of each nominee. Be sure to include name, address and phone number of person submitting the candidate. You can request a Swimming World Age Group Swimmer of the Month Profile form, which can be used as a guide to writing the nomination. The more information we receive, the more complete the story can be.
Send all information to Swimming World, Age Group Swimmers of the Month, P.O. Box 20337, Sedona, AZ 86341. If you want the picture returned, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.
TYR Sport sends each Age Group Swimmer of the Month a package containing swimsuit, goggles and a T-shirt for the swimmer’s coach.
Copyright Sports Publications, Inc. Jun 2004
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