Perkins heading for Toledo
Here and There

By Dave Lamb
For the Dayton Daily News
Wednesday, February 04, 2004

Centerville High School senior Chelsea Perkins, one of the state's fastest freestyle swimmers, was equally quick when it came to college recruiting.
 
Perkins planned to wait until the late signing period this spring but wasted no time when everything clicked on her visit to the University of Toledo in November.
 
She eagerly accepted the scholarship offer from the Rockets and turned her full attention to a standout final high school season.
 
"I was going to wait until after my times came down later in the season," she said. "But the first time I visited the Toledo campus, it felt right."
 
Perkins, who had already visited Eastern Michigan, cancelled a visit to another school.
 
"Before that, I was stressing," she said. "But Toledo offered a good deal when my times were unshaved, untapered. I felt so secure that they had that confidence in me."
 
Perkins will major in physical therapy, a field she was introduced to last year after suffering from shoulder tendonitis. She underwent therapy at the Kettering Sports Medicine Center.
 
"I want to stay around sports and I want to help people," she said.
 
She is stronger than ever after starting a weight program at Pro Fitness in Centerville.
 
"I'm able to pull myself through the water more," she said.
 
Perkins geared up for the high school season with a strong effort for the Dayton Raiders in December. She earned the high-point award in the women's open division at the Mako Sprint Classic at Miami University.
 
She was a key contributor to Centerville's big win at the Southwest District Coaches' Classic in mid-January. The huge meet with 2,250 swimmers from 150 schools is considered a good predictor for the state meet.
 
Perkins has already tasted success at the state level. She swam with Jenny Forster, Erin Forster and Carrie Whitson on the 400 freestyle relay team that won the championship last year.
 
Whitson now swims at North Carolina State and has been replaced by junior Allyson Kiracofe.
 
Perkins also qualified for last year's state meet in the 200 and 500 freestyle events. She's gunning for top eight in both events this year.
 
Two other Elks have also committed to colleges. Erin Forster, a defending state champion in the 100 backstroke, has signed with the University of Georgia.
 
John Mullen, a state qualifier in three events last year, signed with the University of Georgia.
 
 
Select Sharks, Raiders swim for Ohio
 
Select swimmers from the Dayton Raiders and the Washington Twp. Recreation Center Sharks swam on Team Ohio at the recent Mid-States Quadrangular Meet in Indianapolis.
 
The meet featured the fastest swimmers from Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana.
 
Aaron Buchanan, 12, from the Raiders and Sam Mitchell, 10, from the Sharks won high-point honors for their age groups.
 
Other Raiders selected to participate were Nick Alt, Sarah Andrews, Jamie Barrett, Beth Castilano, Sara Castilano, Brad Chambers, Erin Fawley, Taylor Garber, Austin Gregory, Tyler Hinson, Danielle Hixenbaugh, Nicholas Kroll, Jonathan Martinez and Austin Presar.
 
Other Sharks included Rebecca Brooks, Kimberly Brownrigg, Brian Clark, Darcy Heuser, Andrew Mitchell, Cameron Porter and Travis Schieman.
 
 
Contact Dave Lamb at 847-8435 or at d_lamb@msn.com