2008 Woodie Awards
Chlorine and Class
Kyle West
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: Sports
Look at Guilford's records for the 200-yard IM and you'll find that Merritt holds four of the top five times. Considering the IM race consists of a lap of each of the strokes back-to-back, it's obvious this sophomore is just warming up.
While the team is mostly comprised of first years, the veteran talent of Holmes, and co-captain senior Amanda Oehlert, who has also lettered three years, provides a stable backbone for the new talent to develop. Nicknamed "Linebacker" for her dedication and penchant for heavily iced shoulders, Oehlert, a French and English double major, not only set a school record for the 500-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke, but also managed to build an impressive resume of extracurricular activities, honors, and awards.
Oehlert, who's main events are the 200-yard breaststroke and the 500-yard freestyle, doesn't swim just because of the workout, or the team's camaraderie, but also because she simply loves it.
"If I don't swim for two weeks, I go crazy," Oehlert said in an interview after the team's home win over Emory & Henry on Wednesday, Jan. 30.
Oehlert is a three-time Dana Scholar, a member of the Guilford College Scholarship Society, a member of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, a recipient of the Dorothy Lloyd Gilbert Award, the American Sign Language club president, a resident advisor, a student marshal, a three-time Academic All-ODAC honoree, and a five-time member of Guilford's Student-Athlete Honor Roll.
Helping with her vast amount of extra-curricular activities, Oehlert noted that being on the team "makes you very disciplined and incredibly organized," and that "To-Do lists help a lot."
With most of the team being new to the organization, Holmes and Oehlert both feel that having a team full of underclasswomen is almost better.
"Usually new people drop out after the first two weeks, but this year we've only lost two," Holmes said.
With eight practices a week, the first few weeks can seem daunting, but each swimmer is only expected to attend five.
While the team is mostly comprised of first years, the veteran talent of Holmes, and co-captain senior Amanda Oehlert, who has also lettered three years, provides a stable backbone for the new talent to develop. Nicknamed "Linebacker" for her dedication and penchant for heavily iced shoulders, Oehlert, a French and English double major, not only set a school record for the 500-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke, but also managed to build an impressive resume of extracurricular activities, honors, and awards.
Oehlert, who's main events are the 200-yard breaststroke and the 500-yard freestyle, doesn't swim just because of the workout, or the team's camaraderie, but also because she simply loves it.
"If I don't swim for two weeks, I go crazy," Oehlert said in an interview after the team's home win over Emory & Henry on Wednesday, Jan. 30.
Oehlert is a three-time Dana Scholar, a member of the Guilford College Scholarship Society, a member of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, a recipient of the Dorothy Lloyd Gilbert Award, the American Sign Language club president, a resident advisor, a student marshal, a three-time Academic All-ODAC honoree, and a five-time member of Guilford's Student-Athlete Honor Roll.
Helping with her vast amount of extra-curricular activities, Oehlert noted that being on the team "makes you very disciplined and incredibly organized," and that "To-Do lists help a lot."
With most of the team being new to the organization, Holmes and Oehlert both feel that having a team full of underclasswomen is almost better.
"Usually new people drop out after the first two weeks, but this year we've only lost two," Holmes said.
With eight practices a week, the first few weeks can seem daunting, but each swimmer is only expected to attend five.
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