Dalcamo repeats as The Star’s All-Metro Kansas girls swimming and diving athlete of the year

It was a rare defeat for Olathe Northwest swimmer Maddy Dalcamo back in May. A reigning state champion in two events, she came up short in the 100 freestyle at the Sunflower League meet and had to settle for second place.

Through the swimmer’s first three varsity seasons, one of the things Ravens coach Hank Krusen had learned about Dalcamo was that she does not like to settle.

“She was upset (after the league meet),” Krusen recalled. “ ‘I’m not supposed to lose’ was basically her attitude. I could tell then it probably wasn’t going to happen again.”

Sure enough, Dalcamo finished her junior season in more familiar fashion. For the second season in a row, she won Kansas state championships in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 freestyle.

And, for the second season in a row, she is also The Star’s All-Metro Kansas girls swimming and diving athlete of the year.

“It motivated me a lot. I’m a very competitive person,” Dalcamo said of her response to the Sunflower League upset.

Her top state times — 23.82 seconds in the 50 freestyle and 51.27 in the 100 freestyle — led Olathe Northwest to a second-place team finish, the best in the short history of the program.

Meanwhile, her accomplishments in the pool — including club team competition — have stood out to college recruiters.

On July 1, the first day college coaches could directly call her with recruiting pitches, Dalcamo said she received around 20 phone calls.

“It was hectic,” she said. “The phone was ringing a lot. I didn’t have time to do anything, really.”

But, as she added, “It was exciting.”

And well-earned.

submitted by RYAN YOUNG - 2009-07-10 22:43:03

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