Annabelle Swiney has some big goals for what she wants to accomplish in her final year swimming at Zionsville.
And while she will still be donning the Eagle colors for a few more months, she has her future home all squared away.
Swiney is heading just up the road to Purdue University to continue her academic and swimming careers. She had a signing ceremony at Zionsville on Thursday.
“I’m excited to make it official,” Swiney said. “They have such an amazing group of girls up there, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Purdue is coached by John Klinge.
Swiney said during her recruiting process, several things on both the academic and athletic side stood out to her about the school.
“They have an amazing education program,” Swiney said. “I liked the family feel of the team and how close the girls are – how much love they have and how they spend so much time with each other. It was just amazing and it made me feel right at home.”
Swiney is a 12-event state qualifier, making it to state in six individual events and six relays.
Individually, she has twice placed on the state podium in the 200-free, but has also qualified for state in the butterfly, 500-free and 100-free.
Swiney said the Purdue coaches see her competing in the 100, 200 and 500-freestyles, but she is capable of doing multiple events.Â
“I think they see me in those events, maybe the 200-IM too,” Swiney said. “I think I fit in really well with the team and what they need right now.”
The Eagles officially start the high school season in the upcoming weeks, but Swiney and her teammates have been working hard in the pool already.Â
Swiney said she hopes to make her final year the best one yet.
“I mainly just want to make myself better and make the Zionsville team better,” Swiney said. “Then when I get up to Purdue, I can be better for the team.”
As she gets ready for the last few months competing as an Eagle, Swiney said her experiences competing for Zionsville at both the club and high school level have given her great memories to look back at.
“I’m really going to remember how fun their dual meets can be and how exciting it is to go to high school state when we are all pumped up and ready to go,” Swiney said. “Everyone is ready to swim fast and the amount of energy everyone has is amazing.”
Swiney plans on studying kinesiology with the hopes of being a physical therapist in the military.
Will Willems is the Sports Editor of the Lebanon Reporter. Follow him on Twitter @Will_Willems.