All-American heads to

Naval Academy

By Janine Joy

Erik Hunter

Relaxing after setting a new record at the SVC Championships, Union Mine swimmer Erik Hunter has nothing but challenges ahead as he prepares to attend the U.S. Naval Academy this fall and pursue his dream of swimming in the Olympics.

Setting goals and achieving goals - that's what Erik Hunter does best.

After he graduates from Union Mine High this year, he will head to Annapolis to join the United States Naval Academy. Along with a five-year commitment specializing in nuclear engineering, Hunter will also have the opportunity to train for the 2012 Olympics.

At the Naval Academy, athletics provide leadership opportunities and the experiences of team play, cooperative effort, commitment and individual sacrifice. Hunter should fit right in.

“I know it will be hard but I'm looking forward to the challenge,” Hunter said.

His high school and AquaSol coach Terry Jones knows his student will do well when he moves on.

“Erik has an incredible work ethic,” Jones said.

At the recent Sierra Valley Conference swim championships, Hunter broke the 200- and 500-yard freestyle league and school records, obtained All-American times and received All-League honors in both events. He broke both records at the Friday trials and smashed them again during Saturday's finals.

Hunter, who started swimming at age 3 1/2 with the Dry Diggins Dolphins, ended his four-year varsity swimming career last weekend at the Sac-Joaquin Sections championships held at Tokay High in Lodi.

Hunter hoped to “do a 4:30 (4 minute, 30 second time)” in the 500 freestyle. As it turned out, he nearly won, but fell 10/100ths of a second short to another top swimmer from Rio Americano and also took second in the 200.

Hunter is focused on time standards and getting faster all the time but according to Jones, he wasn't disappointed with his section results.

“Sections is not his target meet. These both were new best times,” Jones said of the winning times turned in by Rio's Scott and Placer's who won. “Both of those boys have been at the national level for several years.”

Before Hunter leaves for Annapolis his goal is to make Olympic qualifying times in the 400-meter freestyle, 400 individual medley and the mile. High school swimmers compete in short course events measured in yards. Olympic swimmers compete in long course events measured in meters.

Hunter has long dreamed of competing in the Olympics.

“I really started considering it when I began making my goal times and after getting my first Jr. National time this past summer,” Hunter said.

His personal best times included a 1:42.80 in the 200-yard freestyle, 4:33.36 in the 500-meter freestyle and 4:34.82 in the 400-meter individual medley. Saturday, Hunter's time in the 200 was a new personal best 1:41.90.

With hard work and determination, Hunter has shown everyone what it takes to become an All-American, an Academic All-American, a prom king, a team captain for three years, a Junior National qualifier, a National qualifier and a Junior Olympic record holder. He holds numerous high school records, is an All-League swimmer, a member of the California Scholarship Federation and a leader.

“He's a natural leader,” Jones said. “He's taken the initiative to lead eight of his teammates in a weight training program specifically geared toward swimming.”

Hunter lifts weights three times a week, does 200 sit-ups each night and played four years of high school soccer - all while maintaining a 4.17 grade-point average. A normal workout includes swimming 8,500 yards, which he does twice a day 10 times a week. That's equal to 340 laps per workout, 680 per day - which translates to swimming a little over 10 miles each day.

In a week's time, Hunter swims 85,000 yards or 3,400 laps - 51.5 miles. That's a lot of swimming.

“Swimming calms me down. It's very relaxing,” Hunter said.

He especially enjoys the morning practices and the people at practice. He credits Jones for helping him achieve at a high level of competition. They've been working together for four years.

“He makes coaches look good,” Jones said.

When Hunter sets a goal he he knows exactly what it takes to get to reach it. With his determination, heart, mind and spirit, his future is very bright.