BUFFALO TWP — It would be easy for Bria Otwell to take a deep breath, relax and rest on what she already has accomplished in the pool as a standout high school and club swimmer.

But that's not Bria Otwell's style.

The Freeport senior isn't one to take it easy — in the water or out of it.

“I'm a very anxious person,” Otwell said. “I'm a very hyper person. I feel a lot of pressure, but I have learned to deal with it.”

Otwell has a little less pressure now. This weekend, Otwell verbally committed to Towson University in Baltimore.

The Division I program was one of a long list of colleges clamoring for the services of Otwell, who finished second in the WPIAL and eighth in the state in the 500 Freestyle. She also placed third in the WPIAL in the 200 Individual Medley last season.

Towson was an easy choice for Otwell over schools like the College of Charleston, George Mason, Xavier and Wingate.

She said she always had the goal of going to a Division I school.

And now Otwell can go into her senior season knowing she has nothing to prove — at least not to outsiders.

She has plenty still to prove to herself.

“They're the defending conference champion,” Otwell said of Towson's women's swimming program. “That's just crazy to me. I didn't expect to get on such a great team like Towson. That's motivation for me. That makes me want to get so much better, to get faster and to work harder.”

Otwell has been swimming at a young age.

“I was literally a newborn and my uncle threw me in the pool,” Otwell said. “I've been in the water ever since.”

She began competing competitively when she was 8 and has a firm belief in technique, which was ingrained in her by her technical coach when she was younger.

“She was a South African named Helene and she was crazy. I loved her,” Otwell said, laughing. “She scared me. She would yell at me in her South African accent. But ever since I went to her I've been big into technique. I believe technique is a lot more important than people think.”

Former Freeport boys and girls swimming coach Lori Dudek said Otwell's impact on the team went far beyond what she accomplished in the pool.

“Bria is always very positive,” Dudek said. “She is a tremendously versatile swimmer and she is also very energetic. She always gets her teammates pumped up and she always encourages everyone else. She'd be a terrific addition to any university swimming program.”

Otwell, who is 5-foot-1 and muscular, is better in long-distance events.

That's where she figures Towson will look to use her.

Otwell spends approximately 3½ hours a day in the pool and another 30 minutes lifting weights.

She has lofty goals for this season.

I definitely have a goal set: I want to get down to 4:55 in the 500 free. That's the ultimate goal,” Otwell said.

Her WPIAL winning time last season was 5:02.89.

Her goals beyond that are a bit more modest.

“I just want to go to states and not completely bomb,” Otwell said.

She said she will definitely feel considerably less stress this season with her college destination already set.

“I'm already going to college. I don't have to worry about college scouts looking at me,” Otwell said. “I can be calm and have fun.”