Menchville HS Swimmer Signs With Tennessee

For Menchville swimmer Amanda Carner, December has been an especially busy month, and not just because it’s the season to be jolly.

Menchville swimmer Amanda Carner recently signed with
the University of Tennessee.

On the first day of the month, the 18-year old had traveled to Atlanta, GA, and was participating in the AT&T Swimming Winter Nationals at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. In the process, Carner was photographed in the 400-meter freestyle preliminaries for a picture that was broadcast nationwide to many daily newspapers and news outlets. Less than two weeks later, her name was again distributed to news organizations across the Southeastern region, this time in a press release from the University of Tennessee announcing its Class of 2016 female swimmer recruits, of which Carner is one of six.

In the press release, Volunteer women’s coach Matt Kredich noted Carner’s potential because of her proven ability as a high school swimmer in events such as the 200 fly, 200 back, and 500 free. While mentioning that she has the distance versatility to be a top 400 individual medley swimmer (Tennessee lost their best IM'er, Aleksa Akerfelds, to graduation last year), Kredich also commented on the untapped potential that Carner has in the 100 back and fly, events that she doesn’t compete in often, a potential based solely on her rapid 200 times. In fact, the Monarch senior currently holds the Virginia state record in the 200 back with a time of 1:56.72.

So, the 200 back is your best event?

“Actually, it’s probably the 400 medley,” says Carner, a young woman who is easily noticeable with her “light up a room” smile and long red hair. She may have a point. In August, at the Junior Nationals in Palo Alto, CA, Carner qualified for the 2012 Olympic trials in both the 200 back and 400 medley. With this accomplishment, her plans for celebrations after graduating from Menchville next June have been drastically altered. “The Trials are right after graduation.” Asked about her goals for the event, Garner remains realistic. “I’m just looking forward to the experience. It’s going to be strange to see all those people,” While a reporter was thinking that the term “people” referred to stars such as Michael Phelps and Dana Torres, Menchville swim coach Katherine Dowdy provided the proper clarification. “Usually, at a lot of our meets, it’s Mom and Dad and not too many other people.” Indeed, the Olympic Trials will draw several thousand fans on a daily basis to the festivities at the pool.

Fortunately, Carner is getting to know more of her competitors. In September, based on her summer accomplishments, she was selected to a junior national NCSA (National Club Swimming Association) all-star team, one which competed in a dual meet against the countrywide All Itoman Swim School for an event labeled the “Duel in the Pool,” a competition which was held in Osaka, Japan. Carner especially enjoyed traveling in Japan, mentioning visits to the Osaka Castle and Golden Temple.

Several of her current competitors will soon be teammates at Tennessee, and Carner is counting down the days to her arrival at the Knoxville campus. “I’m super excited. I signed my letter-of-intent in November. I took my trip in September. It was great. I knew it was the school.” In fact, The Swimming World Magazine five-star recruit only took two of her five allowed college visits before deciding to become a Volunteer, but it wasn’t for a lack of interest. Coach Dowdy recalls, “since the beginning of high school, Amanda has probably heard from at least 30 schools.” Carner plans of majoring in special education, with a possible second major in math, at Tennessee.

But there is unfinished business in Newport News to tend to first. In 2009-10, the Menchville girls were undefeated Peninsula district champions at 9-0 and Carner is the reigning Daily Press female swimmer of the year. Both are goals worthy of repeating for both coach and swimmer, along with the development of a relay team with the ability to qualify for the Virginia state meet. Concurrently, Carner also swims with the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins, a team which she has now been with for 10 years.

The best is probably yet to come. In a final thought, Dowdy, now in her fifth year as head coach, added that her star’s hard work ethic and ability to accept feedback are notable, but then turned to the topic of peaking. “Some swimmers peak during the season, or over the course of a career. With Amanda, I haven’t seen any sign that she’s close to peaking."