Gamelier

TOLEDO, Ohio — Kylie Gamelier has posted some incredible accomplishments during her time at Seneca Valley High and the University of Toledo.

The Cranberry Township resident is capping her senior season with the Rockets in grand style, setting school records in four events at the Mid-American Conference Championships last week and becoming the first Rockets swimmer to qualify for the NCAA championships.

"It's always nice to be the first person to do anything," said Gamelier, who qualified for nationals in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke. "My mom's friend said that's a record that can never be broken."

Technically, Gamelier, a co-captain, broke her own records, but at the MACchampionships, which were held at Toledo, she bettered her marks by placing second in the 100 breaststroke (1 minute, 1.48 seconds) and 200 breaststroke (2:12.84).

In the 200 and 400 medley relays, Gamelier, Megan Reissig, Amanda Thompson helped the quartet finish with times of 1:40.15 and 3:30.38, respectively, good enough for an NCAAB time, but those teams did not advance to nationals.

Katie White filled out the 200 medley relay team and Laura Heckroth took part in the 400 medley relay.

"I was nervous during the year," said Gamelier. "I had some on and off problems (with inflammation in her shoulder). I struggled most of the year. In January, I swam a lot better and started to feel I could go as fast as I did. My goal was just to make the NCAAs."

Gamelier also finished eighth in the 200 IM(2:04.98) at the MAC meet and was named to the all-MACfirst team for her efforts.

"To make the NCAA is really the high level in our sport," said Toledo coachLars Jorgensen. "By no means is it easy. It was not unexpected, but, at the same time, we knew she had to have a great performance."

"Even in my junior and senior year (at Seneca Valley), I'd gotten better, but never felt I was a really good swimmer," said Gamelier. "In college, I started dropping times, but not as much. I started thinking, 'Am I done?'"

The big turnaround for Gamelier came last summer, when she dropped a whopping six seconds in the 100 breaststroke.

"I didn't think that was going to happen," said Gamelier.

Last summer was a special time for Gamelier as she qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 breaststroke.

"She's consistently improved," said Jorgensen. "Sometimes, as a junior, you're not as consistent, but she has been. If she trained another year, she could be better. She's a late bloomer."

Gamelier would agree with that assessment.

"I was slow to develop in college," said Gamelier. "I was hoping I would get faster. I would like to be an all-American. I'll have to drop off about half a second (in the 100 breaststroke). That doesn't seem like a lot of time, but in swimming and track it definitely is. I just have to fix some mental details."

The NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships will be held Thursday through Saturday at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. Gamelier will compete in the 100 breaststroke Friday and the 200 breaststroke Saturday.

Making it to the national championship meet is huge for Gamelier, but her legacy at the school is just as big.

"Kylie's helped to elevate the program at a high level," said Jorgensen. "She's a gifted swimmer. She works hard in the weight room, on land, in the pool. She has the mental component. She's competitive. She doesn't excel in one area, but she does well in all areas.

"That's what makes her special," he added.