Feb. 9, 2011

Feature written by Nathan Allen, Mizzou Media Relations

For many student-athletes, making the transition to the collegiate level can be challenging. It can take a season or two of hard work and perseverance to get to that much deserved special season. Junior high jumper Stacy Swineburg is having one of those special seasons.

Swineburg, of Osage Beach, Mo., is no stranger to success. She was a four-time conference champion in the high jump during high school - maxing out at 1.70m (5-7). After talking with Mizzou associate head coach Dan Lefever, Swineburg decided to attend the University of Missouri over the University of Arkansas.

"I knew I wanted to be a Division-I high jumper," Swineburg said. "Missouri was close to home and it felt right."

During Swineburg's freshman year, she placed a very respectable 12th at the Big 12 Indoor Championships jumping 1.63m (5-4 ¼) and 13th at the Big 12 outdoor championships after clearing 1.60m (5-3). Swineburg's sophomore year showed improvement jumping 1.66m (5-5 ¼) - placing 12th at the Big 12 Indoor Championships and jumping 1.65m (5-5) to finish ninth, but she was not jumping the heights she had in high school.

It has been a very trying couple of years as a freshman and sophomore," Lefever said. "We needed to make a lot of changes to her technique and prepare her physically to jump high."

Swineburg described the first to years as "tough" and "frustrating."

"I had yet to jump as high as my high school PR (personal record)," Swineburg said.

Until?

"Until my first meet this year," Swineburg said.

At the Missouri Invitational on Jan. 7, Swineburg shattered her high school best, jumping 1.75m (5-8 ¾), winning the event. Swineburg could have jumped over many people that day - including this writer. Because of Swineburg's quiet and humble personality, it is hard to pinpoint exactly what led to this sudden success. It could be new teammates, a strong work ethic or a timely good luck charm. Or it could be all three.

"I have three new teammates that are awesome," Swineburg said. "They want to work and they want to get better and they are fun to be around. My success is coming from them backing me up in the weight room and their positive attitudes."

Lefever concurs.

"I believe that having the other girls to jump and train with has helped her tremendously," Lefever said. "They are a great bunch of girls and all get along really well."

According to Swineburg and Lefever, Swineburg has also spent a lot more time in the weight room this fall.

"The gains she has made in her strength created the opportunity to improve in her high jumping," Lefever said.

For Swineburg it is more than just a change in preparation and conditioning.

"It is a lifestyle," Swineburg said. "You have to make a choice to want to be successful and then work to get it. My days are wake-up, school, track and homework - then do it again. I like that lifestyle and I am glad I did it."

Swineburg's lifestyle is also having an influence on the teammates that support, push and look up to her.

"Whether she knows it or not, the other girls look to her to set the tone in many ways," Lefever said. "She exemplifies the kind of person that we search to have on the team - this makes her a great role model. I believe the experience she has had over the past two years will give her perspective so she can help the younger girls transition through their first year."

How about the good luck charm?

"My Grandpa Bob," Swineburg said with a huge smile. "He lives in Florida and came to the first indoor meet and I jumped almost four inches higher than I had so far in college. He is my good luck charm."

Although Grandpa Bob may not be able to make the trip for the Big 12 Indoor Championships, he mailed Swineburg a photo of him and Swineburg taken after the meet. That photo now goes to all of the meets with Swineburg. She has jumped higher every meet this year than she did at any meets the previous two years.

When asked if there is anything else she has done differently to make this year so special, the humble attitude takes over again.

"Everything has been better from the top-down," Swineburg said. "Coach (Brett) Halter takes the time to get to know every athlete. Coach Lefever works so hard and does so much. My mom, family and friends have been so supportive - they go to every meet they can."

Regardless if it is teammates, work ethic or a special good luck charm, it is safe to say Swineburg will continue to thrive.

"Stacy is a quiet source of stability in the team," Lefever said. "She quietly goes about her business doing the right thing all the time. She is a tremendous student always - pushing for a 4.0 every semester. I would find it hard to believe that anyone could ever say anything bad about her. She is a prime example for younger teammates demonstrating the right way to be a student-athlete at Missouri."