When it came time to earn a spot on the 18-under United States National Junior Swimming Team the first weekend in June in Indianapolis, McCallie rising junior Collin Holgerson saved his best for last.
First, the boarding student from Atlanta was the last swimmer to qualify for the 100-meter backstroke final. Then, midway through the race, he stood fifth when only the top two finishers would earn a spot on the 26-man US team that will compete at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Romania in August..
But with a finishing kick that delivered a personal best time of 55.56, Holgerson finished second to be the first McCallie swimmer to make the team since former distance swimmer Sean Ryan '10 made the Olympics in 2016.
“I had no idea I’d finished second until I touched the wall,” he said from his Atlanta home. “It was a pretty big shocker. That and winning the state last year have to be two of my biggest highlights."
Actually, Holgerson didn’t just win the state. He was named the meet’s outstanding swimmer. And who was on the pool deck to greet him after his big swim?
“(McCallie coach) Zane Hamilton was the first person I saw,” said Holgerson, who’ll be training with his hometown Team Atlanta until departing for Romania, who’ll host the World Juniors from August 19 through 24.
“Yeah, I’ll have to miss some school, but hopefully I won’t get too far behind,” Holgerson said. “I don’t know anything about Romania, but I’ve seen some pictures. It has a pretty countryside.”
But if he does temporarily fall behind in his studies, he proved again this past weekend he definitely knows how to close fast.