Post by CrimsonPhantom on May 27, 2012 10:04:33 GMT -7
Harding to attend University of Minnesota
By Craig Massey
Las Cruces Bulletin
It was a bicycle accident that eventually put Samantha Harding in a swimming pool. It will take something a lot more than that to get her out.
The record-breaking, nine-time state champion swimmer from Las Cruces High School and the Wild West Aquatic Club began swimming when she was 8 years old. After breaking her leg in a bicycle accident, swimming was recommended as part of her therapy to recover.
She said she continued to enjoy swimming, but didn’t really take it seriously until she was a freshman at Las Cruces High. Harding just completed her senior year at LCHS and leaves a quite a collection of accomplishments in her wake.
She won the state championship in the 500 meter freestyle all four years of high school, earning the state record this year. She also has state titles in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle as a junior, the 200 freestyle as a sophomore and was part of two championship relays, including anchoring the Bulldawgs’ 400 freestyle team this year.
“The distance freestyle events are her best,” said LCHS coach Terry Moore.“But she showed her versatility when she finished second in the 200 Individual Medley. She’s an awesome allaround swimmer, and she’s really focused in school, too. She had an awesome GPA.”
Harding balanced school with competing for two teams during her career. She estimates spending about 20 hours a week working out in the pool.
Harding said the two things she likes most about competitive swimming are being part of a team and seeing the fruits of her labor.
“I like my team a lot and I love my teammates,” she said earlier this week before practice at Frenger Pool. “And I like the success that comes with it. It’s based almost entirely on the effort you put into it. As long as you put the effort in, you’re going to get somewhere. It’s also a good way to vent frustrations.”
Harding, who was born in Brandon, Manitoba, and lived there until she was 2-and-a-half years old, made the initial cut to try out for a spot on the Canadian Olympic team, and attended the next round of trials earlier this spring. While she didn’t make it this time, she plans to try out again in four years.
In the meantime, she’ll be swimming for the University of Minnesota this coming school year after accepting a scholarship to the Big Ten Conference school. She hopes to make an immediate impact on the team there, and her coach with the Wild West Aquatic Club, Luke Egnaczak, is confident that she will.
“She still has stuff she needs to work on, but when you tell her something, by the time she’s at the other end of the pool, she has it fixed,” Egnaczak said. “A lot of kids, it takes weeks. And she trains like she’s possessed. She understands the hard work pays off.
“By her sophomore or junior year, she’s going to be a name that everyone knows. She’s going on to bigger and better things.”
From- www.lascrucesbulletin.com/ee/lascrucesbulletin/default.php?pSetup=lascrucesbulletin
By Craig Massey
Las Cruces Bulletin
It was a bicycle accident that eventually put Samantha Harding in a swimming pool. It will take something a lot more than that to get her out.
The record-breaking, nine-time state champion swimmer from Las Cruces High School and the Wild West Aquatic Club began swimming when she was 8 years old. After breaking her leg in a bicycle accident, swimming was recommended as part of her therapy to recover.
She said she continued to enjoy swimming, but didn’t really take it seriously until she was a freshman at Las Cruces High. Harding just completed her senior year at LCHS and leaves a quite a collection of accomplishments in her wake.
She won the state championship in the 500 meter freestyle all four years of high school, earning the state record this year. She also has state titles in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle as a junior, the 200 freestyle as a sophomore and was part of two championship relays, including anchoring the Bulldawgs’ 400 freestyle team this year.
“The distance freestyle events are her best,” said LCHS coach Terry Moore.“But she showed her versatility when she finished second in the 200 Individual Medley. She’s an awesome allaround swimmer, and she’s really focused in school, too. She had an awesome GPA.”
Harding balanced school with competing for two teams during her career. She estimates spending about 20 hours a week working out in the pool.
Harding said the two things she likes most about competitive swimming are being part of a team and seeing the fruits of her labor.
“I like my team a lot and I love my teammates,” she said earlier this week before practice at Frenger Pool. “And I like the success that comes with it. It’s based almost entirely on the effort you put into it. As long as you put the effort in, you’re going to get somewhere. It’s also a good way to vent frustrations.”
Harding, who was born in Brandon, Manitoba, and lived there until she was 2-and-a-half years old, made the initial cut to try out for a spot on the Canadian Olympic team, and attended the next round of trials earlier this spring. While she didn’t make it this time, she plans to try out again in four years.
In the meantime, she’ll be swimming for the University of Minnesota this coming school year after accepting a scholarship to the Big Ten Conference school. She hopes to make an immediate impact on the team there, and her coach with the Wild West Aquatic Club, Luke Egnaczak, is confident that she will.
“She still has stuff she needs to work on, but when you tell her something, by the time she’s at the other end of the pool, she has it fixed,” Egnaczak said. “A lot of kids, it takes weeks. And she trains like she’s possessed. She understands the hard work pays off.
“By her sophomore or junior year, she’s going to be a name that everyone knows. She’s going on to bigger and better things.”
From- www.lascrucesbulletin.com/ee/lascrucesbulletin/default.php?pSetup=lascrucesbulletin