Something clicked for Rebecca Werdine.
A gifted swimmer with ideal size at 5-foot-10, the Plant High sophomore has always performed well in the pool.
But an eye-opening experience at the state championships last year showed her how much better she could be.
"I saw how all the other girls on the state level were doing awesome and I wanted to be up there with them," Werdine said. "I did well, but I really wanted to do better so I started working harder."
Werdine helped lead the Panthers to a third-place finish at state last year, and she swam a leg for the state champion 200 freestyle relay team, but she wants to do more this season.
With a lot of hard work this summer swimming for her club team TBAY, Werdine has improved her times, including taking one second off her 100 free, three seconds off in the 100 backstroke and four seconds off in the 100 butterfly. She medaled three times, including a gold, at the Southern Zone Championships this month in Orlando.
"I just started working a lot harder at practices," Werdine said. "Now I put in a lot more time in the pool and work on the dry land.
"It's really paid off."
Werdine was part of a talented freshmen class last season that included Spoto's Giorgie Graves, Tampa Prep's Katie Carter and Emma Siewert and Wharton's Danielle Albright and Megan Smith.
While trying to avoid a sophomore slump, these talented swimmers will have a strong contingent of seniors to battle, including Academy of the Holy Names' Molly Sheridan, Berkeley Prep's Laura Jordan, Newsome's Kati Kyle, Plant's Hillary Hahmann, Sickles' Katie Westbrook and Wharton's Sarah Menendez.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement
Advertisement