Chandler Travels to Success
10/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
"Mizzou had a great swimming program and a really good mix of academics and athletics," Chandler said, "MU is really focused on well-rounded student athletes and a lot of universities don't see the whole part of that."
Although swimming isn't a popular sport in Alaska, Katy began her swimming career at a very young age.
"Ever since I was little I've liked to be in the water. My parents made me take swimming lessons when I was young so that I could swim when I was out in the ocean," Chandler says, "I really liked to swim and then when I was eleven I joined a swim team. I started swimming from there and loved it."
Chandler then joined her high school swim team where she was a four-time Alaska State high school champion and one of the most successful swimmers ever to come out of the state. Although those days were great, for Katy Chandler they have only gotten better. "That was a lot of fun, but college is just so much better. It's just great. The team and everybody working together...I just love it so much."
Since Chandler made the jump to the collegiate pool, she has enjoyed growing both as an individual and as a member of her tiger pack. Chandler says one of her greatest memories since she became a tiger was last year at the Big 12 Conference meet.
"On the last day of the meet I got fifth in the mile. It was really exciting because that's not one of my main events and I wasn't having the greatest meet," Chandler said. "Everything just clicked. Not only for me but also for the team that day...everybody clicked that day and it was great to be a part of it."
Chandler now takes with her that memory as she makes goals for this season and the rest of her MU career.
Chandler said, "As a team I think one of our number one goals this year is to be ranked in the top 25 and to get second at conference. Personally, I want to continue improving and get stronger. I'd like to make it to the NCAA championships before I leave. That 'd be a great way to finish off my career at MU."
