Swimming by accident

The Jackson senior will be swimming competitively at Indiana University.

Steffan Troxel should have felt right at home earlier this month when he swam the 1,500-meter freestyle at the World Swimming Trials in Indianapolis.

Troxel, a senior at Jackson High School and member of the Gator Swim Club in Cape Girardeau, was trying to make the cut in an optional event during the trials.

As it turned out, no other swimmer had signed up to compete in the event. Troxel swam by himself and made the qualifying time.

"It's better if there is somebody else there to push you," Troxel said. "But swimming is often a solitary sport and in the distance events, in particular, you are often racing more against the clock than anything else. I guess there was not a lot of interest in the event, but I am used to training by myself."

And Troxel does a lot of training. In a typical week, Troxel will have 10 practices, most lasting about two hours.

"I've been fortunate to keep improving my time, so I stay motivated and don't ever get burned out," Troxel said. "I really love the sport."

He began participating in the sport literally by accident.

As a 7-year-old, Troxel planned to run for a youth track team and play tee-ball.

"I went out for track that spring, and I tripped jumping over the hurdles and broke my elbow," he said. "That also knocked me out of tee-ball that summer. They had me swimming for rehabilitation."

That rehabilitation has turned into a passion.

"I'm not the greatest athlete when it comes to running and throwing," Troxel said. "Swimming is what I am best at, and that is probably why I like it the best. It is the perfect fit for me."

Since Jackson does not have a high school swimming team, Troxel has done his competing through the Gators Swim Club. He capped a solid winter season with a 15th-place finish at the World Swimming Trials in the 800-meter freestyle.

"I actually swam that event the day after I went for the 1,500 qualifying time," Troxel said. "I didn't have quite the time I wanted. But I placed better than I expected."

Gators coach Steve Franklin appreciates that the club's premier swimmer is also one of the hardest workers.

"Steffan just has no pain treshold," Franklin said. "The harder the better for him. He is a very tenacious competitor and is a great influence on the other swimmers in the club."

The other swimmers also can see where the training can lead. Troxel will continue his swimming next year at the Indiana University. He chose the Hoosiers over Harvard, Minnesota, Brown and Dartmouth.

"Indiana was the perfect fit for me with its academics and athletics," Troxel said. "They won six straight national titles in the late '60s and '70s when Mark Spitz was on the team. They still have a good program, and I am really looking forward to working with the coaches the next four years. Another plus is their facilities. They are incredible. They had the Olympic Trials there in 1996 and 2000."

Troxel, who would eventually like to go to law school, plans to study political science at Indiana. And he hopes to be a contributor to the Hoosiers swim team.

"I am happy with what I have accomplished so far," Troxel said. "I eventually want to swim in the NCAA Division I championships and score at it."