TYR age group swimmers of the month!

Swimming World and Junior Swimmer, Aug 1998

MIKE SCHIERHOLD is a very determined individual. The Whitewaters Swimming 16year-old hasn't yet achieved NAG status or gone to junior nationals. But his accomplishments in swimming reach far beyond winning races or achieving time standards.

Mike has a condition called Perthes Disease, which weakened the left side of his body and gave him great trouble in walking and other activities. In April of 1997, he underwent five hours of surgery to repair his left femur. He spent five days in the hospital and two months flat on his back in bed.

Everyone who knows Mike knew he would walk again and perhaps, even swim. But nobody could have predicted how quickly he would bounce back. Just two weeks after getting out of bed, Mike was back in the water. He had achieved personal best times in the season before his surgery and wanted to go even faster afterward.

He lowered his time in the 100 yard free from 55.01. in March 1997 to 52.SI in March 1988. He also dropped seconds off his 200 free (2:02.07 to 1:55.58), 500 free (5:31.53 to 5:14.41), 100 back (59.35 to 57.30) and 200 back (2:09.05 to 2:03.90). KRISTIN CARLSON began her swim career at age 7 with the Maple

Grove/ Champlin Muskies in Minnesota. She quickly impressed her coaches with her hard work, determination and natural athletic ability. Kristin excelled so rapidly that she trained with the 12-year-old girls and soon found herself at the state meet within five months of joining the club.

By the time Kristin was 8, she qualified for the state championships in every event and was runner-up for the high-point award. At 10, she again qualified for states in every event. She earned the high-point award at the Winter Championships and placed 13th on the National Age Group list in the 200 yard free (2:08.52).

This year, Kristin set a goal to break at least one state record in the 11-12 age group. At the Minnesota State Championships last March, Kristin earned a Top 16 and junior national qualifying time in her first event when she won the 50 yard free in 24.42. She went on to break three state records in the 100 yard free (53.34), 200 free (1:56.59) and a 13-year-old record in the 500 free (5:10.56). Kristin also finished runner-up for the high-point trophy.