Making a splash is exactly what some women athletes are doing at Allan Hancock College this spring. With a brand-new swimming team in its first year, these girls are setting the stage for future generations of the sport at this local institution.
Standout swimmer Leanna Bramble is one of 11 women who hope to put Hancock swimming on the map.
After turning laps for the Santa Maria Swim Club since the age of 13, Bramble was ready for the next step. For her, this meant attending college while continuing to hone her skills in the pool. She decided that attending Hancock would allow her to do just that.
By coincidence, her coach from Santa Maria Swim Club is also the new leader of women’s swimming at Hancock. Coach Mike Ashmore has dedicated his time and support to swimmers in and out of the pool.
“One of the people who has kept me going is my coach,” Bramble said.
Just as Bramble finds inspiration in her coach, Ashmore also sees something special in this swimmer.
“She has committed 100 percent to the program,” Ashmore said, also noting the swimmer’s leadership skills and consistent improvement.
Bramble, who feels most confident in her breaststroke, looks forward to what’s ahead. After competing in a conference meet, she and her team hope to attend a statewide meet.
“We’re going to go out and do our best,” she said of the upcoming swim meets. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls.”
Aside from the upcoming meets, there is much in store for this bright swimmer. With aspirations to attend a four-year school with a scholarship, Bramble looks forward to a lengthy swimming career. She plans to major in nursing, which will be her focus when she’s not busy making waves in the pool.
From Bramble’s perspective, there are a lot of reasons to enjoy swimming. From camaraderie and lifelong friendships to challenging oneself each and every day, it all boils down to one simple thing: “I love that your results come directly from how hard you work.”
This article appears in Apr 17-24, 2014.
