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Romano Seeking Swimming Trifecta

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By CHRIS ERRINGTON Tribune correspondent

Published: November 1, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Ask Northeast swimming coach Bill Burrows to point star pupil Meg Romano out of a crowd and his answer is simple - just look for the girl that stands a foot above everyone else.

He could have just as easily been speaking about her talent level.

Such was the case once again during Saturday's Class 2A-Region 3 meet at North Shore Pool.

Romano, an Olympic hopeful and the area's most dominant swimmer, easily qualified for Friday's state meet at the West Central Florida YMCA pool in Orlando by winning the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke, while beginning the winning 200-yard medley relay. But for her it was just another day at the office. Or, in this case, the pool.

'I really just wanted to come out here and continue to improve my times and get some competition,' Romano said. 'I know most of the time I'm going to beat everyone by a lot, but every meet counts because it's another opportunity for me to see how I'm progressing.'

Standing 6-foot-1 3/4 and possessing a seemingly flawless stroke and unmatched kick honed by years of competitive swimming, the 16-year-old junior nearly had her career sidetracked in February, 2006 when she was involved in a car accident that injured several vertebras. She was completely out of the water for two weeks and said the return to swimming was difficult physically at first, but that she has been able to progressively return to form. Romano went on to win the state title in both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle last year and has her sights set on a trifecta this season. Anything less, she said, would be a major disappointment.

'I think I definitely have a good shot to win the individual events and we have a good team going in the 200-yard medley,' Romano said.

Having a talent like Romano on your team presents a unique challenge, even for a 21-year veteran coach. Burrows said his main focus is centered on finding ways to continually challenge his superstar when it can't be provided by area competition. Mostly they focus on improving her times in each event she participates and on which records she can break, but even Burrows knows there's a goal on the horizon that far outweighs any high school can put in front of her.

After swimming for the U.S. Junior National team in Australia as a freshman, Romano will compete in the Olympic Trials in August. For now, she said her focus will be on the 100- and 200-meter freestyle as well as the 100-meter backstroke, but more events could be added. Burrows knows he won't be surprised no matter how far swimming takes Romano either scholastically, collegiately or at the Olympic level. He has seen this coming for quite some time.

'I coached Meg when she was 7 or 8 years old and she was a stud then,' Burrows said. 'She's always been very competitive and has an incredible stroke and kick.'

Now the question is, can Romano lead a team?

'I would love for Meg to be a team leader and I've asked her to be more of that, but we're working on it,' the coach said. 'She's definitely not quiet at all, but she's more of a physical leader than a vocal one for us.

'I guess we'll have to settle for that for now.'

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