HILLSBOROUGH SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: Chelsea Nauta claims success on high school, junior national and Olympic levels.
By BRYAN BURNS
Published December 16, 2005
TAMPA - Tampa Prep's Chelsea Nauta has had quite an impressive run so far in her career.
In November, she captured her second straight state championship in the 200-yard freestyle and added a title in the 500 free, an event she had never competed in before.
That gave her five state titles - she won the 100 free as a ninth-grader and the 100 and 200 free a year later.
She has qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter freestyle events and was a member of the U.S. junior national team in 2004.
In January, she competed with team USA in the Junior Pan-Pacific Games and earned bronze in two relays. She was recognized as the Florida female swimmer of the year in 2004, a first for a sophomore.
Every major college program, including Florida,, is trying to recruit her.
What could Nauta possibly have left to prove in her senior year?
"If I decide to swim the 200-yard free next year at the high school level, I want to set the national high school record for independent schools," Nauta said. "I think the 200 free is the most challenging event."
That record is 1:46.32. Nauta won the state 200 free this season in 1:47.05, shaving more than a second off her winning time from 2004 (1:48.16).
The national high school record for public schools in the 200 free is a little faster at 1:45.98. Nauta admits she would like to break that mark as well.
Nauta, who started swimming at age 6, continues to train with her club team, Tampa Bay Aquatics, in preparation for the summer meets. Her performance this summer will determine whether she makes the national team in 2007.
As for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Nauta would love to represent her country on the world's biggest stage, but she has set even loftier goals.
"My biggest goal is to one day have the world record in the 200-meter free," Nauta said.
ALL-COUNTY GIRLS SWIM TEAM
SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: Chelsea Nauta, Tampa Prep - Won Class A title in the 200 freestyle by nearly two seconds, finishing in 1:47.05, and won the 500 freestyle state title by more than 10 seconds in 4:45.12.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Mara Schultz, Academy of the Holy Names - Led girls to strong showing in every meet they competed in, including a championship in the Class A, Region 3 meet.
FIRST TEAM
MEG ANDERSON, PLANT, FR.: Class 2A champ in 50 free, 24.24 seconds
STEPHANIE BARKER, PLANT CITY, SO.: State qualifier in 100-yard butterfly
MARGIE CHAMBERLIN, WHARTON, SR.: State champion in 100 butterfly
KIRSTEN CHIMIELEWSKI, BERKELEY PREP, SR.: Placed 6th in Class A diving, 391.05 points
KELLY DICKERSON, BRANDON, FR.: Strong freestyler, sub two minutes in 200
ELIZABETH DOWDLE, ACADEMY OF THE HOLY NAMES, JR.: One of best on one of best area teams
KELLEY HUG, AHN, SR.: Stanford bound, runnerup in Class A 100 fly
EMERI LEWCOWICZ, CHAMBERLAIN, SO.: Top 20 at 3A meet
