By Lileana Pearson, Swimming World College Intern
When a college attends NAIA Championships, teams strive to have athletes make the podium. Lindsey Wilson College is banking on Laura Stephenson’s swimming to earn her a spot on the elite platform.
LWC is located in Columbia Kentucky, a small rural farm town in South Central Kentucky. The varsity swim program was installed six years ago and has been growing ever since.
The LWC team is steadily climbing the ranks in NAIA swimming. Currently ranked 9th for women and 10th for men, the team has a total of 23 swimmers. Sophomore Stephenson is making sure that she leaves as much of an impression in her second season as she did in her first.
Stephenson is a human services major from Trenton, Ohio. She swam for Bishop Fenwick High School and competed at state in the 500 freestyle her freshman year, 100 fly her sophomore year, 100 fly and 200 free her junior year and 100 fly and 200 IM her senior year. She was also a fierce competitor for her YMCA team, competing at YMCA Nationals from 2010 through 2013. Stephenson made the podium in her 200 fly at YMCA Nationals her senior year, and has come full circle for her college career.
Stephenson signed to Lindsey Wilson College in 2013 primarily as a butterfly swimmer. From the beginning of her freshman year she has progressed by leaps and bounds, set school records and gained personal bests. Stephenson qualified for NAIA Championships in a number of events last season, and ultimately decided to compete in the 100 and 200 butterfly, and the 200 IM.
LWC’s head coach Alicia Kemnitz was excited to have a talent like Stephenson commit to her program. Stephenson came into the season with drive and impressive times that proved she could be the first LWC swimmer, male or female, to take a spot on the podium. She made the podium in both the 100 fly (57.16) and 200 fly (2:07.53) at her first college nationals.
This year at the 2014-15 NAIA Championships, Stephenson is projected to finish in the top three in several events. She is a young, talented athlete, making her mark on LWC swim history.