| Tanya Wlodarczyk |
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TANYA WLODARCZYK A NATURAL IN THE POOL Age: 18 High school: Douglas College: Emerson College, Boston, Mass.
WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB Tanya Wlodarczyk had a feel for the water at an early age. When she started swimming on her neighborhood summer recreation league team seven years ago, the Mexican-born swimmer of Polish descent fell in love with the sport. “I liked the feeling I had in the water,” she explained. “I liked the power of moving through the water so I kept with it and started practicing more and more.” She soon outgrew the recreation team and joined the Coral Springs Swim Club. Her sophomore year, Wlodarczyk started swimming with the Douglas High School team. “I don’t think I would have stayed with it had I not got into the club,” she said. “I kept getting better and better. I liked the practice. It was a good healthy way to keep fit and I honestly had fun with it.” Wlodarczyk swam the 100 and 200 breaststroke and 100 and 200 freestyle events. “I really enjoyed swimming for my high school,” she said. “Making so many friendships was big. We were really close. I didn’t feel like I was on my own because we were all friends and in it together.” Wlodarczyk also played soccer and water polo. Water polo helped her endurance with swimming. “I don’t even know sometimes why I swam because it was hard, but it was a sport that I was good at,” she said. “I just kept going with it and I had fun with it “I don’t have any regrets that I got involved with swimming. I think I do regret that I should have worked a little harder. That’s what the coaches always say anyway. It’s been fun and I will miss it.” She plans to major in communications in college and pursue magazine publishing and editing. “It’s bittersweet going on to college,” Wlodarczyk said. “At my last practice I will definitely be sad before I leave. I plan on at least swimming in college at the intramural level. I love it too much to quit now.” Sharon Robb can be reached at
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