Martie Vicent
Martie VincentMARTIE VICENT AND SWIMMING IN SYNC

Age: 18

High school: Coral Glades

College: University of Florida

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

Until her sophomore year of high school, Martie Vicent was a synchronized swimmer for the Coral Springs Aquacades and swimming on her high school swim team.

One day she asked a friend if she had the potential to compete at a higher level of swimming. Then she talked to swim coaches and was convinced.

“I asked my friend if I had the potential to go far in swimming if I quit synchro and he said yes,” Vicent said.

“I ended up going in a different direction and I am very glad I did since my junior and senior years I made states in high school swimming,” Vicent said. “It was definitely worth it.”

Vicent was an accomplished synchro swimmer competing in several events including the Sunshine State Games and U.S. Open in Hawaii. She was an even better swimmer.

The endurance and discipline she developed from synchro helped hone her skills as a competitive swimmer.

At the high school meets she competed in the 100 butterfly and 50 and 100 freestyle events. In club events, she swam the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle and 50 and 100 butterfly races.

“It was a different kind of training and different kinds of strengths than synchro,” Vicent said. “I had practice every single day. It made me work harder in the pool and school, too.

“I made so many good friends through swimming,” Vicent said. “I was already disciplined with time management. I know throughout life I am going to use those life skills.”

Vicent was born in South Florida but after Hurricane Andrew destroyed her family’s home, she grew up in Oklahoma. She and her family returned to South Florida in 2002.

She said she has enjoyed some great moments in swimming.

“I remember when I first joined the club team I wanted to break a minute in the 100 free at districts and I sure enough did it. I went 58.

“My junior year I went a double O in the 100 fly at regionals and then my senior year I broke a minute. I just made so much progress. I know I made the right decision.”

Vicent hopes to swim with a club during college and “hopefully get better with my times.”

She is undecided about her college major but plans to pursue something in the pharmaceutical field.

Sharon Robb can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it