SLIPPERY ROCK — When Andrew Opalewski was in eighth grade, he tried to swim two lengths of a pool while holding his breath.

It didn't quite work out according to plan. In fact, it nearly cost him his life.

"I almost made it," Opalewski says, five years removed from the incident and a senior swimmer at SlipperyRock High School. "When you have a lack of oxygen, you pass out and your natural reaction is to take a breath and that doesn't work so well. I took a big gulp."

When he did, water filled his lungs.

Opalewski was transported by medical helicopter to a hospital and spent two days in a medically induced coma as his lungs healed.

The accident did little to curb his swimming career. Now the only people holding their breath when Opalewski is in the pool are the fans watching him.

Opalewski accomplished a rare feat this season, qualifying for the District 10 Swimming and Diving Championships in every event.

From the backstroke to the breaststroke, from the freestyle in the individual medley, he made all 11 swimming events.

It wasn't something Opalewski set out to do. But as the season progressed and he met qualifying standards in event after event, he and Slippery Rock coach Kirby Burns decided to give it a shot.

"We use him in a variety of events," Burns said. "When it got near the end of the season, we said maybe we should put him in the breaststroke and see what he can do."

The freestyle events are Opalewski's best. In fact, he is seeded fourth in the 50 free and Burns believes he has a good shot at becoming only the second Slippery Rock swimmer to advance to the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships.

Bethany Johnston was the other.

The breaststroke, though, is not Opalewski's best event. In fact, he admits he struggles mightily at it.

"In my opinion, it's a hard stroke to learn," Opalewski said. "I've taught lessons for kids on how to swim and the breaststroke is the toughest. It's hard to pick up the timing and the motion of the stoke."

But Opalewski was able to qualify for the district meet in the event to close out his sweep.

Opalewski won't even think about doing the event Friday when the district meet opens.

He's going to stick to the 50 and 100 freestyle and the 200 and 400 freestyle relay events.

"Even if I could (compete in all the events in the district meet), I don't think I would want to," he said.

Opalewski intends to make the most of his four events, however.

"I suppose if I focus and work at it and set my mind to it, I can have a very positive meet," Opalewski said. "If I don't ... it will be just another district meet."

As a freshman, Opalewski failed to qualify for the district meet in any event. As a sophomore and last year as a junior, he advanced in all four freestyle events.

"He's really come into his own as a swimmer," Burns said. "You can see from year to year the improvement he has made."

Opalewski even made marked improvement in his breathing skills.

Three years after his incident in eighth grade, he swam two lengths while holding his breath.

"Even when it happened, something inside me told me it was going to be all right," Opalewski said. "The worst part was the look on my parents faces. I never want to see that look again.

"As far as my own fears, I don't know. You couldn't keep me out of the water."