Hsu is all in for West High

CORALVILLE - In any year that precedes the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, it is not unusual for some upper-echelon swimmers to consider skipping a high school swimming season in pursuit of other goals.

Was it a move Iowa City West senior Erica Hsu ever considered?

'No, never,” said Hsu, who will compete in Tuesday's Mississippi Valley Conference opener against Cedar Rapids Jefferson at Coralville Recreation Center. 'I love high school too much. Olympic Trials are probably a goal for my college years.”

That had to be welcome news to first-year West Coach Byron Butler. The versatile, competitive Hsu has the ability to help the Women of Troy in just about any event she chooses, but is strongest as a distance swimmer. Hsu placed fourth in the 500-yard freestyle at last year's state meet, up three spots from her sophomore performance.

'I just love that fire,” said Butler, a two-year assistant who succeeded Rob Miecznikowski as head coach. 'She's great at competing and thriving on that pressure. I just look forward to her at these end of the season meets this year, just being that much more mature of an athlete.”

Hsu also reached the state-meet podium with a sixth-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley, and is an all-MVC performer in the 100-yard backstroke. Her signature event remains the 500 free, where she is striving for some sub-30 second splits in the 50-yard intervals.

'Last year we really worked my 500 pace,” Hsu said. 'I think this year we're going to work on it a lot more and make it faster.”

During preseason practice, Butler stressed the use of the underwater dolphin kick as a weapon, which utilizes the entire body to facilitate a stronger, faster kick over one solely powered by the legs. The kick gives Hsu an added tool.

'She's got the drive, she's got the talent,” Butler said. 'She's got great technique. It's just going to be putting it all together.”

Hsu is likely the area's strongest candidate for an individual state championship. Two-event state champion Kelsey Drake and two-event state runner-up Jenn Jenks, both from Linn-Mar, elected to forgo their junior seasons. Drake is a 100-meter butterfly qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, which are next summer in Omaha, Neb.

Hsu relishes one last opportunity to compete for West alongside twin sister Alison before continuing her swim career in college, either at New York University or Boston College.

'It's great,” Hsu said. 'I love swimming with Alison. The team is really supportive. We're basically a big family.”

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