For any elite athlete, one of the keys to success is confidence.
Florida swimmer Jamie Bohunicky shows just how true this adage is. After mixed results in her first two years with the Gators, Bohunicky has emerged as one of the fastest members of a Florida team that hopes to compete for a national title in March.
Coach Gregg Troy says her performance at U.S. Nationals in August gave the junior the confidence to take the next step as a swimmer. Bohunicky reached the final of the 200-meter freestyle event, which included the best talent in the U.S.
“When she stood up and finaled at the U.S. Nationals, she really gained a new confidence in herself,” Troy said.
Troy is quick to tout Bohunicky as one of the key swimmers for the Gators this year, as she may be the best freestyle swimmer on the team.
“She was a local girl who didn’t have as much experience coming out of high school and has gotten better every year,” Troy said. “She’s racing people heads-up much better than she ever has before, and quite frankly, she’s going to have to be a real key player for us.”
Bohunicky and her teammates will be faced with their biggest challenge of the young season when Georgia comes to town.
The Bulldogs won’t be lacking motivation this year, as they head into this campaign hoping to erase the memories of last season’s NCAA Championship meet, where they finished second behind California.
Troy called the Georgia squad “the most talented team in the county” earlier in the week, and acknowledged that it will take his team’s best effort to win the meet.
The Florida men will also face a talented Georgia team that finished last year ranked 13th. The Gators will be returning to competition after a two-week layoff.
“They’ve just finished a two-week training cycle with nothing on their plate,
said Troy. “Hopefully we haven’t gotten them too tired to race, but I think it’s been a great training cycle for them.”
Troy commented at his Monday press conference that he would like to see the annual meet with Georgia moved to Jacksonville on the morning before the Florida-Georgia football game, but for now the spirit of the rivalry will be alive in O’Connell Center Natatorium on Friday morning at 11.
