Coronado's Tyler Jackson next in line for successful swimming family
Tyler Jackson likes to say he first got into swimming when he started taking water lessons.
That may be true to the Coronado sophomore, but pool water has been running through his family's veins since well before he was born.
Most of Jackson's mom's side of the family were successful swimmers in the Midland area. His older brother, Trey, is a senior swimmer that has found success in the pool as well. His cousin, Kayla Gerhart, was a highly-decorated swimmer for Trey Hayes before taking her talents to New Mexico State. There's even a younger brother and sister currently in the seventh grade who project to be talented water demons themselves.
Like much of his family members, Jackson has found a knack for distance events. He'll get his own spotlight this weekend during the Lubbock Invitational in the Pete Ragus Aquatic Center.
Typically joined by Lubbock High standout Jones Lambert and his brother Trey in the 500 freestyle, Jackson will be the top-seeded swimmer in the event this weekend. He's not sure how he'll handle it since he's so accustomed to having someone else out there pushing him.
"My older brother does help me push myself because I do want to beat him, but I also want to go my best times as well since we're around the same times," Jackson said.
Tyler and Trey spent much of last year, and the first half of this season, breaking each other's records in the 500 freestyle. One week it would be Tyler, the next Trey.
One of the biggest changes for Jackson this season has been managing his time. He doesn't do much outside of school and swimming, but scheduling can be an issue for a young kid trying to find his way.
"Managing time was definitely a problem back in freshman year," Jackson said. "I had a little bit of trouble doing that. But over the course of the last year, I was able to figure out how to manage time better. So later on in years I keep swimming, I know what to do with time management."
Handling himself in the pool hasn't been much of an issue. Though he performs better at distance events, Hayes, the Lubbock ISD swim coach, said Jackson is just as talented at shorter distances. Putting him in the 500 without Lambert and his brother to push him is a strategic move by Hayes.
"We're just putting him in situations where he hadn't been and see how he handles that," Hayes said. "Being the top guy in the 500, I think that's going to be very important for him. He's done really well against the really fast 6A teams and everything, but I'd like to see when he's by himself because there comes that point when you're a good swimmer. You get to that point, there's not very many people to race.
"You got to learn how to race when you're the best guy. So I'm pretty excited about that for him."
Hayes used to compete against Jackson's uncle, another successful swimmer out of Midland back in his competition days.
"Somebody I really looked up to and now I'm coaching his nieces and nephews and everything," Hayes said. "It's always kind of a neat thing."
Lubbock Invitational swim meet
Friday & Saturday at Pete Regus Aquatic Center
Friday — swimming prelims at noon; boys diving to begin following prelims.
Saturday — girls diving, 8 a.m.; swimming finals, noon.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Coronado's Tyler Jackson next in line for successful swimming family
