Port Clinton's Kami Periat chooses Minnesota to extend swim career
More than one swimmer went home a winner in the same event.
Port Clinton senior Kami Periat was one of them, in middle school. That was all it took and things changed that day.
Periat was on her way to a state championship and Division I college career. She won the 100 backstroke at state as a junior and she verballed to Minnesota with a year left to swim for Port Clinton.
"Being in a small town, you don't understand where everybody else is at to compare yourself to," she said. "For most of middle school, I wasn't aware of opportunities ahead or my potential."
She finally competed with Port Clinton Piranhas in a meet to compare to kids from other states.
"Lake Erie Championships at Cleveland State," she said. "Big meets are always fun. I saw my ranking before we swam. I was seeded first. I was confused, this is a big meet, kids from all over, how can I be first? I tied for first [in the 50 freestyle].
"Tying is hard to do. I realized if I keep training I could stay with them. Put my mind to it and keep improving. Some girls grow up knowing they'll be fast. I got a late start. Until seventh grade, I didn't know until I got to see others swim."
Periat, recognized performer of the meet, swam the 100 backstroke in 54.32 at state. She established a Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division, school and meet record at 58.86.
She finished first at sectional at 58.30 to establish a pool record at Oak Harbor. She was the top seed for state after 55.63 at district.
She intends to pursue the state record as a senior.
"I'm still excited, I still get people coming up to congratulate me and I'm extremely thankful to everyone," she said. "Now, the way my brain works, I have to work and hold my title. I don't want to lose this year, that wouldn't be good."
She was third in the 50 freestyle at 23.54 as Port Clinton finished seventh at state as a team. Periat, Alexa Taylor, Shianne Lieske and Carlie Blaesing were third in the 200 freestyle relay at 1:38.65, the highest state finish for a Port Clinton relay.
They established an SBC Lake Division meet record in first at 1:40.89.
Periat, Taylor, Zoey Barr and Blaesing were seventh in the 400 freestyle relay at 3:38.31. They finished first in the SBC Lake Division at 3:40.16 to establish pool, meet and Lake Division records.
"The whole meet, our team placed the highest we've ever placed," Periat said. "We were excited and proud. We were undefeated during the season, so it was a good end. We never lost a dual meet or invitational.
"We never lost to a single team in the regular season for three months and we were undefeated the [regular] season before so it was a big deal. W were close to the private schools, we surprised everybody."
Periat added 50 freestyle, along with 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays, to the butterfly at state her first two years.
She trains with five coaches for Greater Toledo Aquatic Club.
"I talk to all five, I like that opportunity," she said. "Different looks and perspective on things."
She looks forward to hearing multiple voices at Minnesota as well.
"They have a really good coaching staff," Periat said. "Kelly [Kremer] supervises and Stacy [Busack] is coach. They went in depth on practices. Some schools everybody coaches everybody on a big staff, some you talk to one coach.
"[At Minnesota], the men's coach will coach women. They're fluid. I'll benefit."
She felt like more than a swimmer in Minnesota. She considered West Virginia, Purdue and Miami (Ohio), and Minnesota eliminated visits to Kentucky, Pittsburgh and South Carolina.
"Making machines in the pool," she said of some schools. "I got the sense Minnesota coaches are involved in kids' personal lives to create good relationships and that's something I need in a coach."
The Golden Gophers gave Periat a weekend to decide on their offer.
"I had a long time to build connection," she said. "I started talking to the head coach in September. They saw I was improving and asked my goals. They said if I accomplish those goals I'd become a bigger prospect.
"I updated her on time drops. She was amazing and supportive and I established a bond with her. I was confident after my visit I couldn't find a school that was better. I took a day to process and decided that's where I wanted to be."
It had mom's vote as well, despite the distance.
"My mom [Kim Periat] went with me and my mom said that's where she'd be most comfortable," Periat said. "It's 10 hours away. I feel safe, they'll take good care of me. They're in the Big Ten, they cherish their athletes.
"This has been a goal since, I didn't think it could be a goal until early in middle school. I've been working ever since. Swimming is my job. They understand that there."
She's thankful her parents are Kim and Dan Periat.
"I want them to know I wouldn't have done it without them," she said. "They carted me to practice for 10 years. They sat through eight hour swim meets. They've never not been at one of our meets. Swimming is expensive, they've supported me financially.
"They drove me where I needed to be. Sometimes there were things I didn't want to do. They told me it will pay off. They've been with me every step of the way."
Minnesota told Periat what to strive for as a junior.
"Junior National cuts," she said. "I was close. With more training I could drop times. Three events to get cuts. Practices were molded to tweak strokes and drop times."
She made national cut in the 100 backstroke for the meet in August. She made bonus cut to qualify in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
She's close and still working to meet bonus cut in the 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly and 200 freestyle. Any pressure she feels is much different than it was a year ago.
"The recruiting process took a year. To have that off my shoulders is amazing. It was extremely fun to talk to schools, but toward the end it got stressful. It's a huge decision, I was ready. I'm comfortable and happy about my choice.
"It's the same process to everybody else, but I did it a year earlier. I have friends going through the stress with the same questions. It was advantageous to go through it a year in advance. Senior year, I can just focus on the school year and the swim season is more fun."
Periat plans to drop the 50 freestyle in favor of the 200 or 100 as a senior. She holds the school record in the 100 freestyle at 51.32.
"I'll see if I can get a title in something else," she said. "There's less stress having things set up. I'll still work hard. It will be a smooth year to have fun with friends and family before I'm gone for four years."
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
Twitter: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Port Clinton's Kami Periat loves chance to test self in swimming pool
