Anders is a Swimmer on the Rise
By Dave Kich ‘05, Student Assistant
BEREA, OHIO -– In a sport as competitive as swimming, one must be a hard worker and dedicated to improving oneself day in and day out. However, a positive attitude, believing that you can achieve your goals is needed as well. Maybe that is why Baldwin-Wallace College sophomore Sarah Anders is a swimmer on the rise.
Anders, a North Ridgeville High School graduate, has seen her skills improve since she arrived on the B-W campus. As a result, Anders has been steadily improving her times in the pool.
"I’ve dropped a lot of time in my events," said Anders, who helped the Yellow Jacket women post their second straight undefeated Ohio Athletic Conference regular season record this year. "I just feel more confident in my swimming. My turns and my technique have improved a lot.
This season, Anders’ best times are 27.15 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle, 59.67 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle, 2:30.25 in the 200-yard individual medley, 30.18 seconds in the 50-yard backstroke, 1:06.01 in the 100-yard backstroke, and 2:26.03 in the 200-yard backstroke.
Head Coach Mike Gallagher points to the backstroke events as being Anders’ strongest events. "Sarah’s best events are in the backstroke events. She is good at those events because she works on the little things, like starts and turns. Also, she has great technique which has been noticed by other coaches from other schools as well," said Gallagher.
In fact, it was the 100-yard backstroke event at the 2004 OAC Championships where Anders posted a time of 1:05.87 that she considers to be her most memorable moment at B-W.
"At OAC’s when I swam the 100-yard backstroke, I dropped two or three seconds off my best time ever up until that point," said Anders. "I ended up finishing in sixth place in the OAC.
Furthermore, Anders’ time in the 100-yard backstroke at last year’s OAC Championships is the 10th fastest time in that event in school history. In addition, Anders also is in the B-W history books with the ninth fastest time in the 200-yard backstroke at 2:23.97.
"I am hoping to improve on both of those marks this year," said Anders, who will lead the Yellow Jackets into the 2005 OAC Championship Meet on Feb. 10 at cross-town rival John Carroll University. "We are very confident right now. It should be a great meet and we are looking forward to the challenge and the chance of winning a conference title."
Luke Grilli, a stellar swimmer for the Yellow Jacket men’s team, recognizes Anders’ brilliance in the backstroke events. "Her best event is the 100-yard backstroke. She has a really good chance to place well at conferences this year," said Grilli.
While opposing schools in the OAC are realizing the potential that Anders has, her coaches and teammates at B-W realized this fact a long time ago. "Sarah gives 100 percent and always has a positive attitude toward training. She believes the hard work will pay off in the future," said Coach Gallagher.
While the future of Anders’ is a bright one, it is a matter of her desire to succeed that has spelled success for her. In fact, in high school Anders really had to push herself, considering the fact there were only three swimmers on her team, including her.
"My high school team only had three people, which is a big difference here at B-W where there are about 40. However, it’s a good difference because I get more support from my teammates. I want my teammates to know that I’m working my hardest to reach my full potential," said Anders.
With so many supportive teammates, Anders is enjoying the atmosphere at B-W.
"We’re like a big family," said Anders. "We like to have fun. I know that my teammates will always be there in the good times and the tough times.
It also was the positive team atmosphere that played a role in Anders’ decision to come to B-W.
"Meeting the team was a key part of it. Everyone was really welcoming and friendly. Everyone I met was very open and accepting of me," said Anders.
However, swimming was not the only thing on Anders’ mind when it came time to choose a college. The educational program at B-W really impressed her. As a double major in early and middle childhood education, Anders is hoping to have a teaching job when she graduates. "I’m willing to move out of state. Hopefully, I’ll have a teaching job anywhere from pre-kindergarten through ninth grade," said Anders.
With Anders hoping to be a teacher someday, combined with her swimming talents, is coaching something that she would enjoy?
"I was an assistant coach last summer for the summer swim team that I swam on when I was younger. It was a good experience. The kids were really good," said Anders.
It was Anders’ neighborhood swim team where she actually began her competitive swimming career. One might assume that with Anders’ success in the pool, she got started at a very early age. However, the opposite is true.
"I didn’t start swimming competitively until I was 11 or 12. I joined my neighborhood summer swim team. I was always around the pool anyways, so I decided to get involved," said Anders.
As a year round swimmer, Anders relies on hard work to pave her path to success. However, Anders has been able to use swimming to make her a stronger person in anything that she pursues.
"Swimming has shown me how hard work can pay off. It has shown me how to set goals and then work hard to achieve them. Being on a team makes me a better-rounded person. I always try to be there for my teammates and cheer them up. It is a great thing to be around so many different personalities," said Anders.
Anders’ positive and uplifting personality has not been lost on her teammates.
"Sarah is one of the most genuine girls on the team. She is never in a bad mood and she’s always smiling," said Grilli.
As talented as Anders is in the pool, she is an even nicer person out of it. That is a sensational combination. Better yet, that is a truly positive combination for the Yellow Jacket swimming and diving team.
The 2005 OAC Championship Meet at John Carroll takes place from Thursday, Feb. 10 and goes through Saturday, Feb. 12. Preliminary action begins each morning at 11:00 a.m. and the finals for that days events begin at 7:00 p.m. each evening.
275 Eastland Rd.