Swimming strokes and high notes
It’s all about work ethic for Manitou Springs senior Storrie Cramer, who has secured a college scholarship and is aiming for school swim records and a trip to the state swim meet.
“Every coach wants an athlete like her,” Manitou Springs swim coach Roy Chaney said. “Someone who’s responsible, who takes pride in what they do, who is a great example of work ethic and teamwork.”
Cramer’s best times in the pool include a 26.2 second clocking in the 50 freestyle, 1:04 in the 100 butterfly, 1:07 in the 100 backstroke, the school record of 1:13.42 in the 100 breaststroke and 2:24 in the 200 individual medley.
“Our hopes are high that she will make it into the consolations or the finals (at state),” Chaney said. “I think she can achieve a second-round swim and she believes that too.”
Her competitiveness at the state level has drawn the attention of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.
“They found me for swimming, then they realized that I wanted to get into elementary education,” Cramer said. “With my grades and how I perform as a student they decided to offer me (a scholarship), both academic and for swimming.”
Cramer, who holds a 3.7 GPA, will use her time at Lindenwood to not only swim and play water polo but also to get a B.A. in Elementary Education and advance her career in choir.
“I want to be an elementary school teacher,” Cramer said. “There could be a possibility where I could mix that in with music, and maybe be a music teacher, but I definitely want to be a part of choir when I go to college.”
Cramer has already received high marks in choir, recently being named to the 2010 Colorado All-State Honor Choir.
“It’s fun for me, something different for me to do rather than swimming,” Cramer said. “I express myself in a more intense way with swimming, whereas singing is a more calm way.”
While putting in work at Lindenwood, Cramer will have to periodically face Division I opponents in the water.
“There will be some schools where it will be a little bit intimidating, but I’m only expecting to get better throughout college,” Cramer said. “As long as I keep swimming as fast as I can, there shouldn’t be much to worry about.”
Cramer is taking things one step at a time though, with her senior year at the top of the list.
“I’m just looking forward to a good year of being captain,” Cramer said. “I’m going to do everything I can to go for the records and I know if I can set my mind to it that I can do it. I am just going to keep doing that and enjoy my last year of high school before I go to Lindenwood.”
