Rockford's state swimming record-holder Camden Taylor adapts to form changes in college
Camden Taylor was great enough to set every NIC-10 individual swimming record. The 200-yard IM, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke. The 50, 100, 200 and 500 freestyle records. All Camden Taylor’s records.
He was great enough to become the first NIC-10 state swimming champion in 20 years. And to break an Olympic gold medalist’s state record in doing so.
But he’s not good enough to keep up with the top swimmers in college. Not yet. And to get there, the former Rockford East great is learning he has to make unexpected changes.
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“I am pushing myself to try to stay with all the top guys,” Taylor, a freshman for No. 8-ranked Texas, said in a phone interview this week. “I’ve had to change my stroke drastically since I’ve been here. I also need to get stronger, which will help me in the long run.”
Taylor, a lithe 6-foot-9 with broad shoulders, has the track record and the build for swimming greatness. But in his most recent outing, he finished 12th in the 200 free, 15th in the 50 free and 16th in the 100 free at the Texas Invitational.
That’s OK. He is just beginning to undergo changes instructed by legendary coach Eddie Reese, who is in his 46th year as the Longhorns head coach.
“Coach Reese has a freestyle he likes to teach,” Taylor said. “Mine was pretty much the complete opposite. He likes to keep the arm straight. I think it will be good in the next couple of months.
“It’s been hard. I didn’t believe in it at first. But after practicing for a couple of weeks, I’ve gotten good at it. I think it’s going to pay off.”
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Taylor specialized in the freestyle sprint events during the shorter fall season. He said he might add the 500 free later in the season, depending on how he does at the Big 12 meet at the end of February.
Taylor says “I love it down here” at Texas and likes the challenge of big-time college swimming, but also admits it has been even harder than he expected it to be.
“It’s a big change,” he said. “I like to have people that are better than me so I can push myself to become better, but it’s definitely been a higher level than I expected. I had a few rough starts in the first semester. I got sick a lot. And the first big meet we had, I was nervous.
“But overall, it went good. I’m ready for the next couple of months to see how I can perform. I got down on myself after our first big meet, the mid-season, but I have had a good training block the last month and a half. I am ready to see what I’ve got. Ready to show what I’ve been training for.”
Contact: mtrowbridge@rrstar.com, @matttrowbridge or 815-987-1383. Matt Trowbridge has covered sports for the Rockford Register Star for over 30 years, after previous stints in North Dakota, Delaware, Vermont and Iowa City.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Former Illinois HS star Camden Taylor changes style for Texas swim
