Oct. 30, 2001
Mizzou junior Kyle Sanders was coming to Columbia for college after high school no matter what. However, as a major in accounting began so did a swimming career. Sanders, a St. Louis area native, is one of MU's top butterfly swimmers. Sanders, whose favorite event is the 200 yard butterfly, considers himself a distance swimmer and say these swimmers are much different from sprinters. "The pain is easier on us (distance swimmers) and we put more time in the pool," says Sanders.
Before each race Sanders thinks of his late father while he is on the starting blocks but he says once he is in the pool he is all business, "I'll go after anybody, even my teammates." The Tiger junior says he likes the Mizzou swimming program because his teammates push him everyday. Sanders said Mizzou swimmers Dane Pedersen and Shane Whildin have had the most influence on him as a swimmer. "I like his approach to swimming. He gives everything when he's in the pool," says Sanders of Whildin.
The goals for Sanders this season are to score points at conference meets and to be a leader for the younger swimmers on the team. Sanders says he is willing to take on all comers in the Big 12, "I can compete with anybody and I'm not afraid of anybody." Sanders does not believe he is cocky but would rather refer to himself as confident, "I'm not arrogant I just want to race." Sanders says he will qualify for the Big 12 Championships and this accountancy major hopes the numbers will add up right for a Big 12 title.