 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Patterson takes the lead for Land O'Lakes
By STEVE LEE
© St. Petersburg Times, LAND O'LAKES -- Tara Patterson can't lose. Neither can the Land O'Lakes girls swim team -- with or without her. Patterson has won all four individual races and the four relay races she has entered this season. That's two wins in the breast stroke and two victories in the 200 individual medley to go along with two wins apiece in the 200 free relay and 200 medley relay. The only thing that has beaten Patterson so far is strep throat. The senior co-captain missed the Hudson meet as well as four days of practice while recovering from the inflammation to her throat. Not being able to compete, perhaps even more than even losing a race, frustrated the two-time state qualifier who is determined to lead the Gators (3-0 before Wednesday's meet against Pasco) to a second unbeaten season in a row and qualify for the state meet for the third time. "It was hard. I wanted to be part of (the Sept. 12 win against Hudson)," Patterson said. "It was weird, because I've never really watched a swim meet." Making matters more difficult to swallow was being barred from the team bus by Land O'Lakes coach Glenna Chamberlin. "She wanted to ride the bus and I wouldn't let her," Chamberlin said. "I didn't want her to infect anybody else." "She didn't want the rest of the team sick," Patterson said. "I understand." Now that she is back in the water, Patterson is out to improve her personal best time of 1 minute, 18.34 seconds in the breast stroke. Gearing her training to peak in the postseason, Patterson is confident her time will be good enough for a third state appearance. "She's pretty much a competitor and she's ready to get back at it," Chamberlin said, adding that Patterson's layoff, along with a bye last week has her eager to return to competition. But the coach relies on Patterson for more than just points. Chamberlin looks to Patterson and co-captains Chris Pabst, Heather Gerkin and Robin Roos for team leadership. "She works on strokes with her teammates," Chamberlin said. "I've always looked to her to show those leadership qualities; to get practice started and get (Patterson's teammates) in the water. She knows when it's time to get serious." "I just go and they follow," Patterson said. "When we're just standing in the lanes at practice and no one's really going I'll start swimming and (her teammates) will too." Patterson hopes Mindy Kimplin follows in her footsteps and is grooming the sophomore as the heir apparent to swim the breast stroke. "I talk to her about it and give her tips," Patterson said. "It helps make me a better captain." While Patterson aims to return to the state meet in the breast stroke, she does not hold out hope of beating the county's top swimmer in that event. Hudson's Amanda Paulo set a Sunshine Athletic Conference record last year with 1:11.61 in the 100 breast stroke. "I got used to that," Patterson said of not being able to beat her.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times |
