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Gorgen Steps Away From Dance, Quickly Adapts To Prep Swimming

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By CRISTINA LEDRA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2007

ZEPHYRHILLS - As a former dancer, Zephyrhills freshman Lindsay Gorgen had an advantage over her fellow swimmers before she dropped into a pool.

She had flexibility and picked up strokes as quickly as she would new dance steps, leading her to her rise as one of Pasco County's top young swimmers.

'She learned it quick, and she has worked hard,' said Brian Vaile, one of Gorgen's first swimming coaches. 'You can't ask for anything more.'
Gorgen is already the holder of five Zephyrhills school records, in the 50 freestyle (27.42), 100 free (59.13), 200 free (2:09.84), 200 individual medley (2:29.47) and 100 backstroke (1:08.58). She set the record in the 200 IM early in the season, then broke the own mark with 2:29.47.

'And she'll probably break those by the time we're done talking,' Zephyrhills coach Shannon Counsell said.

Gorgen's specialties are the back and free, but lately she has taken a liking to the butterfly, and Vaile believes she will have all of Zephyrhills' individual records by the time she graduates, except for the 500 free record set by 2005 graduate Kristin Donahue.

For about four years Gorgen trained in several different dance styles, including clogging, ballet, point and jazz and she started swimming around age 9 with a summer club team at Saint Leo University.

Although she excelled at both dancing and swimming, she eventually had to choose between the two because of time constraints, and she decided on swimming.

'I thought swimming was more fun,' Gorgen said. 'You're more active with swimming, and it's just a different environment.'
Gorgen also swims with Team New Tampa, but she has really enjoyed the high school swimming experience.

'It's been great,' Gorgen said. 'I usually do USA Swimming meets, but with high school swimming you really bond with your teammates. It's a nice break from club swimming.'

A straight-A student coming into her freshman year at Zephyrhills, Gorgen makes sure her swimming doesn't get in the way of her academic performance.

Her mother, Jackie, drives her to every meet, including road meets, so she can have as much time as possible to do her schoolwork.

'If I don't do well in school, I come down hard on myself,' Gorgen said.

So far this season, Gorgen has only been beaten once in the pool, but she hopes that by the time the postseason comes around she won't be beaten at all, and that she claims more Bulldogs records.

'I just want to do well,' she said.

MITCHELL ENJOYING SUCCESS: Following Mitchell's wins over Zephyrhills on Wednesday, the Mustangs boys and girls improved to 6-1 on the season behind a squad of more than 50 swimmers.

The Mitchell boys beat Zephyrhills 105-78, and the girls won 97-89.

What's more impressive is that the boys have done so well without Renzo Alvarez, who recently left the team for personal reasons.

Leading the boys are junior Colin Callahan in the 200 and 500 free, senior Sam Rockwell in the 50 and 100 free and senior Gavin Rynard.

SUNLAKE WINS AGAIN: A week after earning their first wins of the season, the Sunlake boys and girls earned win No. 2 against Ridgewood in a tri-meet with Hudson on Wednesday.

The boys beat the Rams 53-16, and the girls narrowly won 50-47.

REMINDER TO COACHES: Call in the results of your meets to The Tampa Tribune at (813) 259-7655 by 11 p.m. the night of the meet.

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