The white dry-erase board between the two pools at the Meadowbrook Aquatic Center displays a simple yet powerful message, counting down the days before the start of the nationals in Irvine, Calif.
The young swimmers here have dreams, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to follow in the wake of the North Baltimore Athletic Club legends who have gone before.
“They not only see their pictures on the wall but they also see them in the pool training,” NBAC coach Paul Yetter said. “And they get to watch Katie Hoff and our other national champions doing their dry-land workouts.”
A 2004 Olympian, Hoff, 17, was at the facility recently before going to Atlanta to shoot an instructional DVD.
“I think some kids do more after they see the top swimmers work out,” said Hoff, who picked up two wins in last month?s NBAC Long Course Meet. “Instead of just leaving, they might do a little extra. I think everyone helps each other stay motivated.”
Yetter and his brother Tom are among the main coaches at Meadowbrook, which was bought by NBAC founder and head coach Murray Stephens in 1987. By the mid-1990s, the indoor pool had been built, and workout rooms had been added to keep the swimmers in top condition.
Kirsten Groome, 15, just moved to the Baltimore area from Louisiana, hoping to improve under NBAC guidance.
“This team is one of the best in the nation,” said Groome, who holds an area record in the 1,500 open-water event for her age group. “That?s why my family moved here.”
Along with Hoff, Olympians Patrick Kennedy, Whitney Metzler, Anita Nall, Beth Botsford and Michael Phelps also have trained at Meadowbrook.
“Our team definitely has a great legacy of being really talented and excelling,” said Fallston?s Courtney Kalisz, who holds a national title in the 200 butterfly. “Even now, having such a talented group really helps everyone stay motivated.”
She?ll look to repeat the 200 fly title at nationals, while Towson?s Felecia Lee, 14, will try to haul in a second 100 fly championship.
“People look at that when they come into our pool,” Paul Yetter said of the club?s tradition. “There?s something about Meadowbrook that?s special. The [winning] tradition of our team helps us a lot, because these kids believe they can do things that are really great.”
NBAC AT NATIONALS
What: USA Swimming National Championships
Where: Irvine, Calif.
When: Aug. 1-5
Did you know? The Nationals serve as a qualifier for both the Pan-Pacific Championships later this summer and the Worlds competition next March ? The Junior Nationals run from Aug. 8-12 in Irvine, Calif. ? The NBAC was established in 1968.
