The Summer Olympic Games proved once again that American swim athletes are the best in the world. With that kind of success, the sport of swimming gains new recruits who aspire to be the next Michael Phelps or Katie Ledecky. Several years ago Hannah Mattson was one of those youngsters who made role models out of gold medal winners.
“I’ve always admired Michael Phelps as an athlete,” Mattson said. “Seeing him compete in the breaststroke is kind of what made me decide to try the ‘fly.’”
The 15-year-old Brookstone School sophomore started swimming as a sport at the age of 6. She was born in Florida but moved to this area prior to the first grade. Looking for some sort of athletic activity, Mattson tried a few sports, but nothing really fit until her father suggested swimming.
“My dad was a swimmer in high school and at UNC,” Mattson said. “He asked if I might want to try swimming, so I thought, ‘Sure, why not?’ In my mind, I was thinking of something kind of like pool party swimming. That’s really all I knew about swimming.”
Shortly after joining the Columbus Hurricanes Swim Club at the D.A. Turner YMCA, Mattson got a real taste of the competitive sport of swimming. Even though she was young, Mattson could tell swimming was right for her, and she has loved it ever since.
The 5-foot-7 athlete credits her former ‘Canes coach, Mike McCardle, with instilling in her a true love of the sport and for making it fun. Mattson says McCardle emphasized team relays and working together as a team all while making swimming an activity to be enjoyed, not endured.
From that foundation Mattson continued to compete with the local swim club and gained a reputation as a talented competitive swimmer. When she began attending Brookstone School last year as a freshman, it was only natural for her to sign up for the school’s swim team.
Established three years ago, the Brookstone swim program is maturing and has many athletes who are also members of the Hurricanes swim club or got their start in the sport through the club. Mattson continues to swim with the Hurricanes, which has created some juggling of schedules and a lot of attention to time management.
“Now I swim six days a week about two to three hours each day,” Mattson said with a smile. “It requires dedication and hard work, but swimming is so important to me.”
That dedication and hard work is already paying off. Last year as a freshman at Brookstone, Mattson was named the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer’s Female Swimmer of Year. The rookie swimmer qualified for the GHSA state meet in a variety of events and had two top-11 finishes. She swims the 200-meter freestyle event and 100-meter fly (butterfly stroke) event as a member of the Cougar team.
In August, Mattson participated in a Southeast Regional meet that consisted of swimmers from 13 states. In her age group, Mattson won the 100 freestyle and the 100 butterfly events. It was unexpected but gratifying for her.
“I was very surprised,” Mattson said of her performance. “I dropped a lot of time. That felt good because it gave me the confidence to know I can improve, and when I improve, I can win.”
Going into her second season as a Brookstone teammate, Mattson has set a few goals. She wants to be in the top five at the state meet and help her team get higher point totals for all meets. Mattson believes the Brookstone team could be poised for greatness this season: Almost every swim athlete is returning, and several experienced freshmen joined the program.
Her future plans include becoming a student-athlete at a Division I swim program. Right now, the University of Georgia tops her list of potential schools. The medical field is her intended vocation, and at this point she is looking at the practice of obstetrics and gynecology.
Mattson feels swimming has so many benefits. The sport is one she can participate in as a competitor or just for personal fitness and literally has no age limits. She speaks of swimming with such passion and appreciation, it seems it would be fitting for the athlete to be an ambassador of the sport if there was such a position.
“It takes a lot of dedication and sacrifice to be a competitive swimmer,” Mattson said. “You give up a lot of social interaction with friends because when they are socializing, we are practicing and going to meets. But if you are working hard and having fun, it is such a good thing. Honestly, I don’t know where I would be without swimming in my life. It teaches so much beyond the physical: time management, accountability, leadership, and team bonding.”
Thinking for a moment, Mattson smiled broadly and said, “I am still having fun in the water.”
Columbus Valley/December 2016
Hannah Mattson
Brookstone School
Columbus, Georgia
Written by: Beth Welch
Photos by: Jerry Christenson
