Fresno State Athletics
Summir Brightens Swimming Team's Hopes
11/8/2000 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 4, 2000
By Aaron DeWall, Fresno State Media Relations
During last year's Western Athletic Conference swimming championships the Bulldogs broke six school records and one swimmer walked away a WAC champion. In the 100 backstroke, senior Summir Case finished first with a time of :55.99, and qualified for the Olympic selection meet.
Case grew up in Foothill Ranch, Calif., and made an immediate impact on the Fresno State team. In her first season she recorded the top time for the season in the 100 backstroke and was also top dog in the 50 freestyle that year.
"I knew from the start that Summir was going top be one of our best," swimming head coach Daniella Irle said. "Her appearance at the Olympic selections surprised everybody, but I knew it would happen."
In front of a capacity crowd of thousands at Indianapolis, Ind., Case achieved something that she had been dreaming of since high school.
"It was incredible," Case said. "It was like one large family. I had never performed in front of such a large audience before, I was amazed."
Although Case was performing in front of a crowd larger than anything she had ever faced, she remained unshaken. Her mind was clear, her nerves unshaken.
"When I walked out to the pool it became just another meet," she said. "If I though of it as `oh my god the Olympic trials' I would have done terribly. It just became another goal, another step."
Of those thousands of people in attendance, Case felt the presence of only one.
"I never swam in front of my older sister until that day," she said. "I have always idolized her, and performing great in front of her was what pushed me that day."
Pushed her, it did. Case entered the competition seated 69th and finished 48th out of the 92 swimmers competing in her event. She swam a lifetime best in the 100-meter longcourse backstroke with a time of 1:05.92.
"We knew she would do well," Irle said. "When I heard how well she did, I was just stunned." The Bulldog swim and dive team has always been supportive of each other and Case credits a large part of her success to that support.
"These guys are an extension of my family," she said. "We are always yelling and cheering everybody on and it makes a difference when you are in that pool."
Case has also made friends from teams all over the state, from teams that she must compete against regularly, pitting her against friends that she cherishes deeply. Those friendships end, however, when the meet starts.
"There are no friends at the blocks," she said. "When I am at the blocks, I do not say a word to the person next to me. I'll make time for friends after the meet."
All of these friendships that she has developed helps her to enjoy her experience on the team, but for Case it is all about the swimming. She carries in her a desire to be in that pool, to work at becoming the best she can.
"Reaching your goal is this high that you can't get from anything else, it pushes me every year to get better," Case said.
This season will be a tough one for Case and the rest of the `Dogs. With a roster of 16, they are operating at the bare minimum for a swim team.
"I think that we have the quality, drive and desire to get it done," Case said. "I know that we will do well. We have already had three meets and everyone has put their hearts into the team."
Now that the dream of the Olympic selection meet has been met, Case has already set her next goal. She is looking toward the future and the NCAA championships.
"Individually, my goal is to get into the A cut for the NCAA's," she said. "Last year I just missed it and that has set a fire in me for this year."
Case is quickly setting her role as one of the Bulldogs' leaders this year. In the first three matches of the season, she has set three in-season top five times and taken five top three finishes. She has strong individual goals, but her dedication for her team remains strong.
"I am not just training all year long for the NCAA's," she said. "I am training for the team and to do the best for the team."
