For a guy who isn't fond of having attention drawn his way, Coleman Swisher picked an odd sport to get in to.
Swisher is a diver for Lafayette and when, or any diver for that matter, takes his place on the platform, all eyes are on them.
So at Saturday's MSHSAA state swimming and diving championships the senior did his best to tune out his surroundings.
"I get nervous easily and I know that now so I kept a free mind.," Swisher said. "I really try not to focus on anything. I just threw on my headphones."
He was able to escape into the sounds of Pearl Jam and System of the Down.
"They are just songs and artists that I have listened to for a really long time and I know all the lyrics," Swisher said. "It gets me comfortable."
Despite this being just this third season diving, the senior was able to place fourth on Saturday, earning 391 points and 15 for the Lancers, who ended up fourth overall.
"I wasn't expecting to get fourth at all. I was aiming for top eight," he said.
Swisher saved all of his biggest dive for last.
"We put in a back one-and-a-half, one-and-a-half at the very last because I would either not nail it and stay in the same place or nail it and bump up a few spots," he said.
Unfortunately he didn't nail it
But it wasn't a deal breaker either.
He maintained his standing as everyone else was vying for second.
Rockhurst's Ford McLiney earned the meet's rock star status for his performance, winning by nearly 120 points for the jaugernaut Hawklets.
Swisher stumbled into diving and could end up doing it on the collegiate level. Last year was Swisher's second season and finished 16th.
"This summer was the first summer that I decided to kick it into gear I dove with Clayton for a little bit and I went to Indiana University for there camp," he said. " I started thinking maybe I want to do this college. I knew I had to step up my game if I wanted to do well this year."
Swisher played water polo his first three years of high school but it looks like he may take a break from it try to get an internship at a hospital.
Whatever path he takes, he's bound to find the right tune.
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