By PHIL DENIS CORRESPONDENTPublished Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.

SARASOTA — - Corinne Showalter, a senior-to-be at Riverview High, announced Tuesday that she will be attending the University of Florida on an academic-athletic scholarship in 2009.

Showalter, a three-time Herald-Tribune High School Girls Swimmer of the Year, is competing this week in the U.S. Olympic Trials at the Quest Center Omaha in Omaha, Neb.

She finished 16th in the 400-meter freestyle on Monday and will compete in the 800-meter freestyle on Friday.

Showalter, a member of the Sarasota Family YMCA Sharks, will join at least four other Sarasotans on the swim team in Gainesville.

Riverview's Blair Collins and Drew Crete, along with Sarasota Christian's Austin Detra, are incoming freshmen while Ryan Crete is currently a junior at Florida.

"I made an unofficial visit to Gainesville two weeks ago and I met the coaches and took a tour," said Showalter, a six-star recruit according to Swimming World Magazine.

"Everything I want is there. The academics, the swimming, a coaching staff I love and I love the environment there. It's so green and such a beautiful campus.

"It's a great fit for me and a dream come true. Ever since I was a little kid, I've wanted to go to the University of Florida. It all seems like such a perfect fit. The only other school I was interested in was the University of Arizona, but this is where I want to be."

Showalter is familiar with Lady Gator head coach Gregg Troy, a Sarasota High graduate, along with assistant coaches, Anthony Nesty, who once coached at the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota County, and Martyn Wilby.

"Everyone has been very supportive of my decision and I'm really looking forward to it," Showalter said. "Right now, I'm doing really well and I hope to be able to continue.

"I'll probably go into the nursing-related field, possibly a physician's assistant. I've been around medicine all my life. My mom's (Linda) is a certified nurse and my dad (David) is a vascular surgeon.

"The reason I made an early decision is that I want to enjoy my senior year at Riverview. I want to be able to concentrate on my school work and swimming."

"Our girls team successes can be attributed to Corinne," said Riverview High coach Larry Shofe. "Over the years, she has become very accomplished in all four strokes."

The Riverview High girls swim team has won the past two Class 3A FHSAA Finals team championships.

This is cache, read story here

Posted in login to post comments