University of Tennessee Athletics
NCAA SWIMMING QUALIFIER PROFILE: ANDREW THIRLWELL
March 15, 2007 | Men's Swimming & Diving
March 15, 2007
In preparation for the NCAA Swimming Championships, Utsports.com will publish several profiles to spotlight nine Tennessee swimmers who qualified for the 2007 NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minn. Each day a new release will focus on a new swimmer to honor his accomplishments, to peer into the personality of a UT swimmer and to learn about his preparatory thoughts on the championships that will be held March 15-17. The swimmers will be highlighted in the following order: Brad Boswell, Andrew Engle, Octavio Alesi, Jim Dabney, Nolan Morrell, Barry Murphy, Jeff Sudbury, Michael Wolfe and Andrew Thirlwell. Today's profile focuses on sophomore Andrew Thirlwell and concludes the UT NCAA qualifier series.
This talented Newcastle, England, native qualified for the 2007 NCAA Championships but unfortunately injured himself prior to competition, making him incapable of swimming.
"I was in the weight room doing some power cleans," Andrew Thirlwell said. "And I did something slightly wrong in the technique. Then a disk in my back just popped out. I had already injured it in the spring but it wasn't as bad. Re-injuring it made it ten times worse."
Thirlwell has enjoyed his time in Minneapolis this week but has had a hard time swallowing the fact that he cannot compete.
"It's been pretty bad coming down here and having to watch everybody swim," Thirlwell said. "It just makes more hungry for next season when I come back from the injury."
He began his swimming career by taking just mere swim lessons. Thirlwell's England career reached its acme when he broke records in 100 and 200 short-course meter individual medleys at British Junior Nationals.
"I started swimming lessons when I was younger, then I just progressed from there," Thirlwell said. "I began to realize I could swim pretty well. At that point, I joined a club team and went from there."
Competition in England did provide a challenge but not an as enticing one that the U.S. offered.
"England is much better with respect to swimming competition now," Thirlwell said. "There isn't as much depth in England as there is in America. There is still good competition but just not as much depth.
Thirlwell almost burnt out his swimming interest prior to college but fortunately changed his mind and come to the University of Tennessee.
"I was considering stopping swimming after high school because I had just had enough," Thirlwell said. "I had looked at a few Universities and emailed a few coaches. JT (John Trembley) got back to me after just a couple of days. After speaking with him, I just decided I would go there."
Thirlwell will standby as an alternate for the championships Thursday through Saturday. His hunger, as previously mentioned, has pushed him to set high goals for next season.
"Next season I want to qualify for NCAAs," Thirlwell said. "I want to take home a top-five finish at least in the 200 individual medley, top-eight finish in the 200 freestyle and a top-eight in the 800 freestyle relay."
Even UT head coach John Trembley has noticed Thirlwell's immense will-power.
"There has been a radical change in Andrew Thirlwell from last to season to this season," Trembley said. "He has certainly shown a very inspiring effort in his work habits. In fact, he seemed like a man possessed from last spring to the point of this season when he was injured and lost his mobility."
Not only does Thirlwell have a strong work ethic, he has been a real team player from the beginning of his career here at the University.
"Ocassionaly when international athletes come in, they lack a team mentality," Trembley said. "And Thirlwell is incredibly involved in asking about recruiting statuses. He is definitely one of our strongest team members in seeing that UT is on top."
The 2007 NCAA Championships start today March 15 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Players Mentioned
