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[These are stories that ran with the Statesman's winter preview package for swimming. I interviewed Carol Jo and Rachael on Dec. 17]

Swimming preview: Five athletes to watch
December 28, 2010

Carol Jo Herz
School: North Salem
Year: Junior

With experience in both high school and club swimming, Carol Jo Herz is putting it to good use — both in the pool and at North Salem High.

The Vikings junior, who is the defending Central Valley Conference district champion in the 50-yard freestyle, intends to be a swimming ambassador of sorts at the school.

“I want to just draw people into swimming, and I want to be an advertisement for swimming,” Herz said. “My goal isn’t necessarily winning and swimming really fast. It’s more to just (publicize) swimming and show people how fun swimming is and to draw people into the sport from my high school.”

Herz has competed in elite-level meets for the Bearcat Swim Club and swam in last year’s OSAA Class 6A state meet in the 50 free.

She doesn’t want her success to get in the way of helping her teammates succeed.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m put above anyone else, which is really good because I don’t want to be on a podium looking down at my team,” Herz said. “I’d rather us all be working together as a team. Whenever people ask me for help, and sometimes people do, I’m more than happy to help them and show them stuff.”

Last season, Herz won the CVC district title in the 50 free in 25.82 seconds. At state, she swam 26.08 in the prelims and did not advance to the finals.

Herz missed the beginning of this season with an illness. She began practicing just before Christmas and hopes to debut in competition at the end of January.

“It’s been hard since I’ve been sick and out of swimming for a month,” Herz said. “Right now I’m just focusing on getting back into practice, but I think by the time district and state rolls around, I’ll be ready for it.”

Once Herz returns, her goals will continue to be team-centered.

“(I want) more people join the team than last year,” Herz said. “Going to state is just a cherry on top.”

— Lee Clarkson

Rachael Nelson
School: Sprague
Year: Senior

Rachael Nelson has tasted state-level competition before, swimming on Sprague High relay teams in the past three OSAA Class 6A state meets.

Come February, the Olympians senior wants to make a return trip to the Mt. Hood Community College Aquatic Center — hopefully in individual events, too.

“It’s such an important meet to go to,” Nelson said of the state meet. “I really want to go, so it makes you more motivated.

“You know everyone’s going to be swimming their very best and the best people in the state are going to be there, so it just makes you want to prepare better for it.”

Last year at the Central Valley Conference district meet, Nelson was second in the 50-yard freestyle and also placed in the 100 free, 200 medley relay and 200 free relay. Both relay teams advanced to state.

Short freestyle sprints are where Nelson has found the most success, and she admits they are her best events.

However, Nelson said she enjoys a longer race — the 200 free — because it allows her to battle with competitors, unlike the 50 free, which is an all-out sprint with little time to adjust strategy.

Nelson, who swims year-round with the Bearcat Swim Club, has set goals to put herself in a position to perform well at state.

“I would really like to get in the 25-second range for the 50 free,” she said. “It’s something I haven’t done before, but it would kind of help me get to the state level.

“I would also like to get first in the 50 free and the 100 free (at districts), too. Just place as high as I can and improve my times.”

The bottom line for Nelson is simple: This is her senior season, and she doesn’t want to waste her final opportunity.

“I really want this to be my best year because it is the last chance,” Nelson said. “I’m really just going to try to train my hardest for it and be as prepared as possible.”

— Lee Clarkson

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