Jacket Career as its Outstanding Senior Female Athlete
By COLE CHRISTENSEN, Bowling Green Sentinel Sports Writer
BEREA, OHIO —- From her first experience on an organized YMCA team at age 8, Kristen Showalter knew she was destined to be a college swimmer.
A self described "pool rat," Showalter, a 2001 graduate of Bowling Green High School, has spent the better part of her life surrounded by water.
From frigid 5 a.m. workouts to long weekend invitational meets, she has dedicated her mind and body to the sport that she loves. However, Showalter never knew that the hours of long practice and miles of endless laps in the pool could be so rewarding.
Last month, Showalter was selected as Baldwin-Wallace College’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete. The award, given annually, recognizes athletes who excel in their individual sports, and who contribute their leadership qualities to their teams and to the campus as a whole.
Although she knew that she had been nominated for an award, Showalter was shocked when her name was announced as the athlete of the year. As she stood on the stage, she remembers feeling a sense of closure to a remarkable 14-year career in the pool.
"Swimming has been such a huge part of my life and it was an overwhelming feeling to think that these people thought so highly of me as an athlete and a person," she said. "I felt like it was beyond a perfect way to end my career."
As a four-year standout at Baldwin-Wallace, Showalter owns one conference and five school records. She also won five individual Ohio Athletic Conference championships. Out of the pool she was a two-year captain and contributed her
time and leadership qualities to improve the program.
"It was a pleasure to see her grow throughout her four years at B-W," head coach Mike Gallagher said. "She always had a positive attitude, and was well respected by her peers; not just on the swimming and diving team, but in other sports as well."
The Yellow Jackets won two OAC conference titles in her career and she cites these victories as the most memorable moments of her career.
"It is a totally different feeling when you are standing on the awards block by yourself and they announce your name, and when you are standing up there with your whole team," she said. "Winning those two titles with my team was definitely the highlight."
This season presented a major challenge to Showalter, who found herself in the middle of an academic and athletic balancing act.
As an early childhood education major, she was committing most of her day to student teaching, which conflicted with two months of regular season workouts with the team. Showalter often found herself swimming alone in the mornings and evenings. She also had to find time to be a visible member of the team and active captain at practice whenever possible.
"I had to train by myself sometimes and I had to be my own coach sometimes," she said. "That is hard to do when you are used to having someone in your face telling you what you need to do and pushing you."
For Showalter, participating in Division III athletics went hand in hand with being actively involved as a student. While at B-W, she was a member of several campus organizations including the alumni office and the dance marathon. She was also a member of the Kappa Delta Pi honors society. An at-large selection to the academic All-OAC team, Showalter has a 3.50 grade-point average.
"There were so many opportunities through having a small school and having people who knew your face," she said.
Despite the challenges of balancing classes, swimming and campus organizations, she believes her experiences in college were invaluable.
"I almost miss the hectic schedule and running here, there and everywhere," she said. "I really enjoyed college life a lot and I am really going to miss it."
Although she has graduated, Showalter does not plan to give up swimming. She has already begun planning for some open water competitions and may even try her luck at a triathlon. Eventually she would enjoy the opportunity to coach a team and give back to the sport that has given her so much.
For now Showalter will concentrate on securing a teaching position, and is also looking towards graduate school.
Eventually she would love the opportunity to teach at the college level.
"Swimming has really taught me that if I set my mind on something, I know I can go after it and get it," she said. "It has been an influential part of my life and affected me, not just on the athletic side, but as a whole."
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