Over the last five years, a 14-year-old by the name of Thaxton Freeman, became the Ulysses Shark Swim Team’s own “Cinder-fella” story. Shark’s Head Coach Aleisha Stepp and Assistant Coach Eduardo Mendoza have watched Freeman go from barely floating to swimming his way to the top.
“Thaxton is very hard-working and dedicated,” said Stepp. “He is a role model swimmer.”
Thaxton originally joined the swim team to follow the trend of his friends. Now, he is driven to take his freestyle into his future college career.
“I plan to compete in swimming as long as I can,” said Freeman.
Preparing for each competition requires Freeman to train from 6:30-8 a.m., Monday through Friday, with cross training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Additionally, Freeman observes other swimming athletes and attends swimming camps and clinics to improve his skill set. During the school year, Freeman continues training and competing in the Fall and Winter, only taking time off for cross-country and track.
Impressively, Freeman trains for a second organization, the Western Kansas Swim Club (WKSC), of which he is an ambassador. Stepp and Mendoza also coach Freeman for WKSC.
“Thaxton has goals, and he wants to reach them, so he puts in the time and shows up,” said Stepp.
Freeman credited Stepp for her efforts.
“She pushes me," he said. "She always has my times and knows where I can improve. She has also taught me I have to have fun with it and if I fail, to try harder next time.”
Freeman’s most memorable swim meet so far has been at the district competitions.
“It’s just the elite swimmers so I’m proud to be there,” he said.
Competing is one of Freeman’s favorite parts of being a Shark, most notably due to tracking his improvements. In the 2023 season, Thaxton hopes to improve his start speed and perfect his butterfly stroke. At a district competition in February, Freeman shortened his time for the 200-yard individual medley by nearly seven seconds within a day.
Stepp commented on this accomplishment.
“His biggest strength is his drive and how he pushes himself to do better,” she said.
Overall, Stepp’s WKSC team earned the third-place trophy, with Freeman as the only Shark to compete. The trophy symbolized the WSKC’s first district win in 40 years.
Freeman and the Shark Swim Team will kick-off the season June 3 in Liberal, Kans. The first local meet will be June 10 at the Grant County Recreation Swimming Pool.
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