CVST's Volz Signs With FAU
CVST's Volz Signs With FAU
By Kristine Lee, CVST Senior Swimmer
Excitement hangs in the air, waiting to be freed by ink as it touches paper, artfully creating the loops and lines that form a high school athlete’s signature. It may just be an abstract representation of their name, but in truth it is more. That signature binds them to a college where they will grow to their full potential as athletes, just as the ink binds to the paper.
There comes a day in a serious high school athletes life when he or she must decide if they will continue their talent through college. For Carrollwood Village Swim Team senior Emma Volz she didn’t have to ask herself whether she wanted to swim in college or not. She always knew she wanted to. When offered a spot on Florida Atlantic University’s swim team Volz knew that the school and the team would be a perfect fit for her.
Beginning her swimming career at just age four, Volz has continued to learn each and every day from her coach Jim Kelly. Through all of the early morning practices and exciting travel meets Volz has never stopped loving the sport as much as she did her first practice when she was four.
When you first dive off the blocks into the water you get an adrenaline rush and you know it is time to go fast and win your race. “I prepare for each race by zoning everyone and everything out before my race and just focus” said Volz. She has prepared for each race like this since she was about 8.
Volz accomplished her first Junior Olympic cut in 4th grade for the 200 freestyle long course yards. After aging up and no longer being able to attend the Junior Olympics Volz started attending Senior Championships every year since she was 13.
Finally after 13 years of countless hours of hard work and dedication in the pool, Volz reached her first Grand Prix cut. This is the cut that all swimmers dream for besides making it to Olympic trials. The Grand Prix meets are held in six locations around the country and many Olympians attend these meets. Volz plans on swimming the 800 and 400 yard freestyle on February 14-16 in the Orlando Grand Prix. Volz’s plans on swimming the 800 long course yards freestyle, with the time of 9.28.99, and the 400 yard freestyle in time trials at the meet.
Volz’s favorite meet that her team has attended is the Boys and Girls Club meet. “I love it because we always have so much fun, we get to host it, and we shave and taper for it and always swim so good at it” said Volz.
Volz is very excited to swim for Florida Atlantic University as a freshman and throughout the course of her college career as she pursues her desire to become a marine biologist.
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