WARREN HARDING Nathan King set to swim for OSU

He said OSU coach Bill Wadley consistently called him every week.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- During recruiting season, Warren Harding High senior swimmer Nathan King got calls from coaches all over the country. But there was one coach that showed more interest than anyone else -- Ohio State's Bill Wadley.
"He's a really nice guy and he was the only coach to call me consistently every week," said King, who signed with Ohio State last Friday. "He believes in me and really thinks I can do a lot."
King has done plenty already.
The Raider standout placed second in the 200-yard individual medley and third in the 100 backstroke at this year's state meet, capping a stellar career in which he earned all-state honors four times. He will likely swim those events in college, he said.
Likes the water
"I love the sport," he said. "I love racing. There's nothing I'd rather be doing. But it takes a lot of dedication and a good work ethic and it's very time consuming. It keeps you in very good shape."
King practiced twice a day in high school, waking up early to swim an hour before school and then swimming two hours after school. Add in lifting and a Saturday practice, and King spent more than 20 hours a week training.
King also visited Purdue, Michigan State and Missouri, but didn't want to travel too far away.
Likes the location
"It's not too far away and that's good for myself and my family," King said of Columbus. "I also know a lot of the people on the team because I swim against them all year. It just felt right."
The Buckeyes placed eighth at this year's Big Ten meet and went 7-2 in the regular season. They qualified nine individuals and three relay teams for the national meet.
King will major in architecture at Ohio State -- a program that the other three schools did not offer.
"I love designing stuff and I love physics," said King, a 3.4 student at Harding. "It sounded like an interesting way to go."
scalzo@vindy.com