Nov. 17, 2003
By Emilie Goldman
Media Relations Student Assistant
Most college students worry about grades, making friends, and living away from home. Junior Matt North has a lot more to think about. As an Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 100-yard breaststroke, North wants to see how far swimming can take him.
"Just being on the Olympic team is my goal," North said. "I need to improve a lot, but I hope to be there by next year.
Swimming runs in the family for North. His father swam for the Tigers from 1966-1968 and his brother at the University of Pittsburgh.
"I got my brother started because he always had to go to my meets. He hated going to just watch, so he started swimming," North said.
North took up the sport at age six, but didn't take it seriously until he was 9 and started swimming year-round. He attended St. Charles High School in Illinois and benefited from the strong swimming program.
"I never had the feeling that I was good, but I always thought I had potential to be really good," North said. "All through high school I improved a lot."
He continues to develop as a Tiger and has broken two pool records this season. North set a new record time of 2:03:14 in the 200-yard breaststroke at MU's Natatorium against Truman State and went on to break a pool record at Southern Illinois with a time of 55:43 in the 100-yard breaststroke.
"Right now I prefer the 100 breast, but it switches every year. Actually, it could switch from race to race even. I don't really know what stroke is better for me," North said.
Missouri swimming Head Coach Brian Hoffer has watched North mature in all of his races.
"It is fun to watch someone develop in your program, so it's great to coach him," Hoffer said. "He knows what he has to do and has specific goals within himself."
The history and tradition of the Missouri program make it easy to excel. Swimming was an individual sport for North until he became a Tiger and learned what it was like to be on a team.
"We pump each other up," North said. "We do cheers in the pit and have meetings to get us ready."
North might be relaxed before meets, but in the pool he is a fierce competitor and has four of the top-40 times in collegiate swimming. He is ranked fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke, 12th in the 200-yard breaststroke, and top-40 in the 200 and 400 individual medley.
"He's not afraid to race, he gets excited, but not nervous," Hoffer said. "He has great work ethic and isn't afraid of anyone."
North knows he has to keep improving. After summer nationals, he started focusing on holding his breath longer and his underwater pullouts.
"I was the first one to start swimming, which isn't good, so I need to work on that," North said.
While North continues to stand out as a Tiger, he also looks forward to his future after college. Although he is unsure of his plans, he hopes swimming will be an option.
"I am interested to see how far I can take it," North said. "It would be disappointing to stop when I am still on my way up."
North doesn't have to look that far ahead just yet. With the rest of this season and next year, he hopes to continue breaking records and dropping time.