LAKEWOOD RANCH — John Silvers’ day begins at 4 a.m.
The Lakewood Ranch senior rolls out of bed. He wolfs down some breakfast. Then he gets in his car, drives to Sarasota and jumps in the pool for swim practice.
Then it’s off to school until around 2:30 p.m. Then it’s back in the pool until around 6 p.m. Then it’s back home for dinner and schoolwork.
This is Silvers’ life three days a week.
“The worst part of swimming is the waking up,” Silvers said. “After that, you’re fine.”
Silvers has learned not only how to juggle swimming and school, he’s found a way to excel in both. As has fellows Mustang swimmer Ashley Reid, who is a junior.
Both were named to the USA Swimming’s Scholastic All-American Team in September and will compete in Thursday’s Class 2A state swimming and diving championships at the Central Florida YMCA in Orlando.
Manatee swimmer Rachel Harrington also made the scholastic team and will take part in Saturday’s Class 3A state meet in Orlando.
“It’s kind of hard,” said Reid, whose mother, Maureen, is Lakewood Ranch’s swimming coach. “You have to stay really focused on both homework and swimming. It’s tough, but you have to keep concentrated on your school work.”
The All-America team was made up of 1,500 swimmers across the country who achieved at least a 3.5 grade-point average as a high school sophomore, junior or senior, achieved a Junior National Bonus Time Standard, swam in a selected disability championship meet or the Open Water National Championships during the qualifying period.
Silver’s GPA is 4.3. Reid carries a 3.9.
They’re dedicated students. But they’re also dedicated enough swimmers that they each clinched berths in Thursday’s state championship meet by taking first during last week’s regional meet.
“The adrenaline you get from the competition is what you strive for,” said Silvers, a regional champion in the 200-yard freestyle and a member of the Sarasota Sharks club team who started swimming when he was 3.
“Originally, in middle school, I wanted to quit swimming. But my parents kept me in it, and I’m glad they did. More recently, my parents have understood that I really love swimming.”
Silvers practices six days a week, having only Sundays off. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are double practices, when Silves spends 90 minutes at the pool in the morning and three hours in the pool after school.
The hard work has paid off — Silvers will sign a national letter-of-intent next week with Penn State.
Reid, a regional champion in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, is relatively new to swimming, having started three years ago.
“Growing up, I played every sport,” she said. “And we were watching the Summer Olympics one night, and swimming was on, and my mom said, ‘Doesn’t this look fun?’”
Reid swims club in St. Petersburg with the Aquatics and has a schedule similar to Silvers.
“Especially during summer, you’re like, ‘Why am I doing this?’” Reid said. “You just have to stop and calm down.”
Through her packed schedule, Reid has learned to budget her time. She knows to come right home, eat dinner and hit the books.
If time allows, she may get on Facebook for a little while.
It’s a grind. But Reid knows this is good preparation for college.
“I have a few friends in college,” she said, “and they tell me all about their day, and it’s what I’m doing now.”
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