Go, go, go, sleep; then go, go, go

Swimming for Clearwater High and a club team doesn't leave much time for Clay Bullock to realize how tired he might be.

By CHRIS GIRANDOLA
Published October 20, 2005

Remember that old commercial in which the U.S. Army boasted how much it did in the early morning? You know, something like this: "We do more before 9 a.m. than most people do in an entire day."

Well, listening to Clearwater swimmer Clay Bullock discuss his day might put the Army to shame, let alone most everyone else:

3:30-4 a.m.: Wake up and get ready for practice and school.

4 a.m.: Leave Palm Harbor house for West Florida Aquatics club practice in Largo.

5-6 a.m.: Club practice.

6:05 a.m.: Get in car and drive to Clearwater High School.

7 a.m.-1:55 p.m.: Go to classes at Clearwater (and maintain a 3.0 grade point average).

2 p.m.: Get in car and drive to Largo pool complex.

3-5 p.m.: Club practice again at Largo.

5:05 p.m.: Get in car and drive back to Clearwater High School.

6-8 p.m.: High school practice at Clearwater.

8:05 p.m.: Get in car and drive home.

8:45 p.m.: Eat dinner.

9-10:30 p.m.: Study.

10:30 p.m.: Go to sleep.

Whew, it's tiring just to write all that.

Besides doing well in school, Bullock, who last swam for Clearwater when he was a freshman, has gone undefeated for the Tornadoes.

Bullock decided to swim this year for Clearwater for two reasons. One: This is his last year of high school. Two: Tornadoes coach Dave Paul, 62, in his 14th year at Clearwater, relaxed his strict policy of swimming either for a club or high school, not both.

"I decided to bend a bit this year because I trusted the two club coaches (WFLA coach Cashel Mack and Clearwater Aquatics coach Mike Yearwood) that my swimmers are working with," said Paul, whose other two club swimmers, Adam Corbin and Jana Willsey, swim for Yearwood at the Long Center.

Bullock joined the team midway through the year and adds a formidable threat for the Tornadoes heading into the district tournament. Clearwater lost earlier this season to district foes Northeast and Seminole without Bullock's help.

"He's a tough young man to figure out," Paul admits. "He'll swim much faster in meets than he does in practice. He's just a natural swimmer, born to swim."

That, or maybe by the time evening rolls around, Bullock might be a little tired.

Mack marvels at Bullock's desire and ability to swim for the school and the club.

"It's borderline crazy, if you ask me," said Mack, in her sixth year as WFLA director. "It's been a challenge for Clay, but he's handled it well and he's shown how talented he is in the pool. It's a credit to him that he can be mentally and physically prepared when it comes to meets."

While the schedule may be demanding on Bullock, he knows it will prove beneficial to him when colleges come calling.

"It's taught me to be a lot stronger, both mentally and physically," said Bullock, who is being heavily recruited by FSU, Kentucky and South Carolina. "Also, competing with a team has challenged me to give that little something extra because I know it will benefit others, not just me."

[Last modified October 20, 2005, 01:20:19]