The current hasn’t always flowed to the benefit of Maddie Mastrup, but that never slowed her—it only made her stronger. She’s overcome any adversity facing her to the point where adversity now cowers in fear of her ability to improve beyond the highest expectations.
“I started swimming when I was about 9,” Mastrup said, soaking wet from practicing and bearing the cold winds of the Santa Maria Valley. “My mom thought that it would be fun and that I should give it a try.”
How right her mother was. In these past couple of years, Mastrup has been crowned an MVP, been added to the prestigious list of Academic All-Americans, and won CIF in the 500 Freestyle.
“It’s an honor to see my hard work pay off,” she said, “and it’s an inspiration to think about.”
Mastrup is also one of four swimmers at the Santa Maria Swim Club to sign letters of intent to universities this year. She signed to Colorado State University, where she will follow her “passion for fashion” and study fashion merchandising.
What lies on the horizon for young Mastrup? Her long-term plan is to qualify to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics trials. Of course, she isn’t alone when it comes to supporting that dream. Through her coach, Mike Ashmore, she’s been pushed to extremes she never thought she could work at. And, of course, she has her mom, to whom she owes a life debt for getting her involved with swimming in the first place.
This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 3, 2009.
