Big Goals on Horizon

January 12, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

Sophomore swimmer Samantha Roberts

YOUNGSTOWN

Samantha Roberts is a self-described “dumb blonde” who makes the Dean’s List. She’s a country girl who listens to Lil Wayne. She admits getting up at 5:30 a.m. for swimming practice can drive her crazy, then adds that swimming keeps her sane.

And she’s a fierce competitor who carries herself with all the ferocity of a marshmallow Peep.

“She’s competitive but also very down-to-earth,” Youngstown State University swimming coach Matt Anderson said. “If things go well, she gets excited but she’s not in-your-face excited.

“And if it doesn’t go well, she’s disappointed, but she says, ‘Well, I’ll do whatever I need to do to make sure I take the next step the next time.’”

That approach has paid off in the pool. The sophomore from Spencer, Ind., won all three of her events in last Friday’s meet against Ohio University to earn Horizon League swimmer of the week honors on Tuesday.

The Penguins are hoping that’s the first of several honors this year as Roberts eyes becoming the second swimmer in school history to win an individual league title and the first to earn a berth in the NCAA nationals.

“The NCAAs for Division I is very fast and we’ve never had anybody get there,” Anderson said. “We’re kind of looking at getting her close to it this year and then taking that next step so hopefully we can get her into the meet by the time she’s a junior or senior.

“She’s got the potential to be in that kind of category.”

Roberts already holds school records in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke — she set both marks at last year’s Horizon League meet — but would need to drop at least four seconds off her best time in the 200 breast (her best event) to win a league crown.

Roberts finished fifth in the 200 breast and sixth in the 100 breast (1:06.01) at last year’s league meet and was 13th in the 400 IM.

Last year’s conference-winning 200 breast time was 2:17.52. Milwaukee junior Sarah Wardecke (the 2010 100 breast champion) has the conference’s best time so far this year with 2:18.46.

Erin Carter is the only Penguin to win a conference swimming title, capturing the 400 IM crown in 2004.

“I think it’s within reach for me,” said Roberts. “That’s my goal for this year.”

Roberts was recruited by nearly every Horizon League school and grew up about an hour southwest of Indianapolis, where Butler is located.

But Anderson was the first to show interest, and the most persistent.

“The nice thing was, after we signed her, she had the Indiana state meet a few months later and she dropped a bunch of time,” Anderson said. “I was like, ‘Yes!’ That’s exactly what I was hoping she would do.

“I could see she was ready to take the next step and she came in here and dropped more time as a freshman. And she’s already ahead of where she was at this time last year.”

Like most top swimmers, Roberts trains year round — she even did double workouts this summer with her club team “because my coach made me feel bad,” she said, laughing — and because she swims the 400 individual medley, she has to stay sharp in all four strokes.

“Sometimes I ask myself why I do it, but I think I’d go insane if I didn’t,” she said. “Swimming keeps me sane. I couldn’t imagine myself not swimming.”

Her life revolves around swimming and school — she recently switched her major to physical therapy and she wants to eventually become an occupational therapist — but she does find time for movies, music, Chipotle burritos and family. Her parents, Tony and Meshelle, make the seven-hour trip for most home meets.

Her talent makes her stand out, but her personality helps her fit in, Anderson said.

“Everyone loves being around her and she fits in great with the team,” he said. “She’s fun to coach and she’ll do anything you ask.

“No matter what you throw at her, she’ll go at it hard and that’s what puts her in the category she’s in.”