Meet Fort Madison senior Jordyn Boyer, the high school athlete of the week
Burlington High School has had many great girls swimmers through the years. One look at the record board on the wall in the BHS pool reveals a long list of top-notch swimmers who have come through the program through the years.
Yet it has been 14 years since Burlington last had a state qualifier in girls swimming. Brena Peterson qualified in one-meter diving that year.
It has been more than two decades since the Grayhounds have had a state qualifier in a swimming event, dating back to an era when many of the school records were set.
Jordyn Boyer hopes to end that dry spell this year.
Boyer, a senior at Fort Madison High School, competes for Burlington through a sharing agreement.
And Boyer is inching her way up the list of great swimmers in program history.
Boyer already is setting personal bests this season with over half the season remaining. She has gone 26.65 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle and 59.05 in the 100 freestyle. She also swims on the Grayhounds' 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay teams. The 200 freestyle relay team, which also includes Alayna McDowell, Elli Boyer and Elle Dostalek, is approaching the school record.
Under the watchful eye of first-year coach Emily Hill, a former Iowa State University swimmer, the Grayhounds are dropping times at nearly every meet, and there is still plenty of time left for more personal bests and perhaps a few school record.
The Hawk Eye recently caught up to Boyer, The Hawk Eye's High School Athlete of the Week, to learn a little more about her.
What is your favorite sport besides swimming?
"I enjoy playing soccer in the spring and plan on going out my senior year as well."
What is it that you like about swimming?
"I like the feeling of pushing my limits and the energy it gives me. I like to prove people wrong about their first impression of me when we’re on the starting blocks and other teams feel BHS isn’t a fast team. The feeling of going into the wall with full power and touching first is one of the most amazing feelings."
What is your best memory in swimming?
"When I was 7 years old at my first swim meet ever, there was an ice storm and I was the only Fort Madison YMCA swimmer to show up as the coach forgot to text my parents the team had cancelled going. I still swam my events without my team being there."
How do you and your teammates make practice fun?
"Coach Emily (Hill) makes it fun and plays music. Between each set she likes to show us her dance moves!!"
Do you have any pregame or gameday routines and what are they?
"I enjoy listening to music to help me focus and prepare myself for my upcoming events. I also make sure I eat oatmeal the morning of my meet and have plenty of healthy snacks to keep up my energy."
Who is the funniest person on the team?
"The funniest person has to be Amari Bailey. She is always making me laugh even on my worst days. "
Who is your biggest role model and why?
"She’s not on the team anymore because she moved, but it was definitely Estella Brockway. She and I always pumped each other up before our races and having her by my side was always motivating. With us having similar times, we always made sure we were happy for one another. I enjoy hearing from her as she continues to swim in Illinois."
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
"Definitely my culinary class because I love cooking."
What is your favorite meal?
"Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo."
What is your favorite TV show?
"The Office."
If you won the lottery, what would your first purchase be and why?
"I would save it for college!"
What do you enjoy doing in your free time and why?
"I love spending time with my family and friends. On Fridays, I love going to football games and supporting my twin brother, Aidan."
What is your favorite motivational slogan or quote?
“I want to be able to look back and say, 'I’ve done everything I can, and I was successful.'” -- Michael Phelps
What are your future plans for college and career?
"It would be awesome to swim in college. I would like to pursue a career as a physical therapist."
What is something about yourself that would surprise people?
"I am partially blind in my left eye."
Matt Levins is a sports reporter for the USA Today Network in Burlington, Iowa, who has covered local sports for 32 years at The Hawk Eye. Reach him at mlevins@thehawkeye.com.
This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Jordyn Boyer working her way up leader board for Burlington girls swim
