The latest issue of Swimming World Magazine
is now available for download in the Swimming World Vault!
Non-Subscribers Can Download This Issue Here
How They Train: Iowa Central’s Andrew Iverson
By Michael J. Stott
“When picking a swimmer to highlight (for the “How They Train” article in Swimming World), it would seem that Billy Cruz would be the logical choice,” offers ICCC coach Joe Plane. “Who wouldn’t want to brag about our five-time national champion, national record holder and co-swimmer of the year?
“However, there are 400,000+ swimmers in USA Swimming, and very few of them will swim NCAA D-1. While we coaches always value hard work and high expectations, I believe it’s important for the majority of our swimmers to see that there is a place where they can and be successful and fulfill their dreams,” he says.
“Andrew Iverson spotted me at a meet in Iowa City. He came over and introduced himself. He had good times for what we are doing here, but he was honest that he wasn’t going to be eligible to swim for a college/university due to his grades in high school.
“I told him that if he graduated high school, he would be eligible to swim for us. He would then need to focus on school and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in order to stay eligible.
“He was so moved that he would be able to go to college and swim that he nearly had tears in his eyes,” shares Plane.
And in two short years, Iverson has made the most of his time as a Triton! The Sioux Falls, S.D. product has embraced—and thrived—at the opportunities he’s found at Iowa Central Community College. In his first season (2019-20), he finished eighth at the NJCAA National Championships in the 500 (4:53.10) and 1650 yard freestyles (16:32.44), and became an immediate team leader in the process.
South Dakota does not sponsor high school swimming. As a result, Iverson, the state’s second-ranked recruit, landed on the Fort Dodge campus, having swum in the South Dakota Long Course Championships. There he finished first in the 400-800-1500 meter freestyles (4:27.76, 9:11.45, 17:03.23) and 400 IM (4:55.61). He also garnered a second in the 200 IM (2:20.74) and third in the 200 breast (2:48.54) and 200 fly (2:22.81).
“Andrew is one of the hardest working swimmers I have ever coached,” says Coach Joe Plane. “He is consistently positive and is much harder on himself than I could ever be. Despite competing and training for distance events, it took him some time to adjust to the way we train here. We graduated our best two distance swimmers ever so this allowed him to be a physical and motivational leader this season.
“Andrew could be a poster child for competitive resilience. Last year, he began NJCAA nationals with a subpar 1000 free (10.01.52, 15th). After a conversation, he reset, posting a personal best 200 free (1:49.25, 15th—by 1.2 seconds), 500 free (4:53.10, 8th—by 6-tenths) and 1650 free (16:32.44, 8th—by 15 seconds). For this year, he has set higher goals, and it appears he’s going to exceed them.”
Iverson has taken full advantage of his ICCC opportunities, notes Plane. “He is on his way to graduating with a 3.0 GPA and has signed on as a scholarship swimmer at St. Cloud University. I’m extremely proud of him and delighted to have been able to help him achieve his dreams,” says Plane.
SAMPLE SETS
“We go VO2 max on Tuesdays with color charts, so each swimmer has times to hit based on their individual chart, which was created during a test set. Following is a late fall set that was part of a 5,400-yard practice:
4 Rounds:
• 200 (odd rounds free, even rounds choice) VO2 max on 4:00 (chart times followed by actual times in parentheses): free 1:59 (1:58/1:59), fly 2:21 (2:15/2:13)
• 150 free VO2 max on 3:00: 1:28.5 (1:29s)
• 100 (odd rounds free, even rounds choice) VO2 max on 2:00: free 57.7 (59s), fly 1:08.6 (1:05s)
• 50 (odd rounds free, even rounds choice) VO2 max on 1:30: free 26.7 (27s), fly 31.7 (29s)
• 100 EZ on 2:00
“Andrew is a very aerobic swimmer, so the short purple times are more challenging for him, “ says Plane.
To access a more distance-oriented workout from Andrew Iverson and Coach Plane,
Click here to download the full February 2021 issue of Swimming World now!
[PHOTO BY DELLY CARR, SWIMMING AUSTRALIA]
Get Swimming World Magazine and Swimming World Biweekly FREE When You
Become A Member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
New! 30 Day Membership to ISHOF AND Digital Swimming World Subscription for just $10 a month!
Want more? Get a 1 Year ISHOF Family Membership With Swimming World Print AND Digital Subscription
Order Now!
Non-Subscribers can click here to download this issue for only $5.94
Swimming World Magazine February 2021 Issue
FEATURES
012 THE PRIDE OF GIRLS’ POLO IN THE GATEWAY CITY
by Michael Randazzo
When COVID-19 lockdowns last spring stopped polo, Rob Peglar and Abby VerMeer didn’t hesitate: they focused on getting girls water polo untracked in the Gateway City. The result: the St. Louis Lions, the city’s first all-girls team.
014 ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL
by Dan D’Addona
The popular motto of The Musketeers, built on supporting each other as well as the group, is just one of many reasons why the University of Texas remains among the strongest in men’s college swimming and diving.
020 READY FOR A BREAKTHROUGH
by Andy Ross
Melanie Margalis is an Olympic relay gold medalist and a three-time relay champion at Worlds, but a podium finish in an individual event has eluded her on the world’s biggest stage. After ranking No. 1 in the 400 IM and No. 3 in the shorter medley for 2020, her turn to win a medal for the United States could take place this year in Tokyo.
022 PERSEVERANCE AND HARD WORK PAY OFF
by David Rieder
After not qualifying for Australia’s Olympic team in 2012, Emma McKeon was ready to quit…but over the next several months, she had a change of heart and understood what was necessary to compete at a higher level. Since then, she has become a significant international force, a consistent podium presence and one of the world’s most impactful relay swimmers.
026 TAKEOFF TO TOKYO: TARNISHED GOLD
by John Lohn
East Germany’s Kristin Otto will long be remembered as a highly decorated athlete, and for turning in one of the greatest Olympic outings in history, winning six gold medals at the 1988 Games. But because of the links to her and performance-enhancing drugs, what she accomplished—before and in Seoul—will always be tainted.
029 WHO “SHOT” THE SWIMMERS? (Part 2)
by Bruce Wigo
Shortly after the 1936 Olympics in a lab in Boston, Harold “Doc” Edgerton, an electrical engineering professor at MIT, began tinkering with equipment that would change the way science explains natural phenomena—and with it, the art of aquatic sports photography—forever.
032 NUTRITION: TO BE THE BEST, YOU NEED TO EAT THE BEST!
by Dawn Weatherwax
Each year really does build onto another—nutrition is an imperative part of the process, even at an early age.
COACHING
016 SELLING PROCESS TO SWIMMERS (Part 2)
by Michael J. Stott
In 1993, psychologist Anders Ericsson wrote that greatness wasn’t born, but grown. Fifteen years later, author Malcolm Gladwell suggested that it takes roughly 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery in a skill or field. Known by the term, “process,” swim coaches use that learning curve to improve the performance of their swimmers.
036 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: FREESTYLE TECHNIQUE FOR SPRINT AND DISTANCE (Part 2)
by Rod Havriluk
Optimal freestyle technique for sprint and distance is identical with respect to the arm motion throughout the stroke cycle, but the arm coordination is different. While a swimmer can swim a wide range of velocities with opposition coordination, a swimmer will only achieve his/her fastest velocity with superposition coordination.
040 SPECIAL SETS: TRAINING THE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE—THEN AND NOW
by Michael J. Stott
In his lengthy career, Gregg Troy has mentored athletes of all ages and abilities, which has given him a unique perspective of how to prepare post-college grads for excellence at the international level.
042 Q&A WITH COACH JOE PLANE
by Michael J. Stott
044 HOW THEY TRAIN ANDREW IVERSON
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
035 DRYSIDE TRAINING: TIME TO GET STRONG…AGAIN!
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
038 GOLDMINDS: JUST GO WITH THE FLOW
by Wayne Goldsmith
How can you control—and even master—your emotions? The answer is by learning to become a more resilient swimmer. Here’s how…
046 UP & COMERS: RICHARD POPLAWSKI
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS
010 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
011 DID YOU KNOW:
ABOUT FREDERICK LANE?
047 GUTTERTALK
049 PARTING SHOT
Swimming World is now partnered with the International Swimming Hall of Fame. To find out more, visit us at ishof.org