Miss-Delectable
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http://www.taftmidwaydriller.com/articles/2005/08/10/sports/sports01.txt
Every day someone attends a sporting event to escape the rigors of life. Sometimes, though, those troubles are not limited to the fans. Taft sisters and former Taft High swimmers Amy and Jennifer Mitchell know something about the latter as they compete for their respective college swim teams.
Amy, the younger of the two sisters, started her swimming career at a young age when she competed for the Tiger Sharks. After a couple of years, Amy joined the Bakersfield Swim Club when she was nine.
In high school, Amy swam the 200 and 400 IM, breaststroke, the freestyle and butterfly.
"I did it all in high school," she said.
Meanwhile, Jennifer, who is 24 years old, also swam the 200 IM while competing in the 200 and 500 freestyle. However, there is one difference between the two of them.
Amy could hear while Jennifer has been deaf since she was born. The idea of not being able to hear bothered Jennifer.
"I was very frustrated and angry for being unable to hear because most of the people did not understand how I feel about being deaf," Jennifer said by e-mail. "They did not respect me."
Finally in her senior year of high school, Jennifer, who was 17 at the time, got a Cochlear Implant. With the surgery Jennifer was able to understand different sounds while helping her with english, spelling and lip reading.
"After I had my surgery, the anger I had inside is gone," said Jennifer. "My most favorite sound is to listen to the ocean waves crash, they are so beautiful and realizing to hear."
After both graduated from high school, Amy had hopes of attending the University of Southern California. However, she was not accepted.
Besides USC, Amy had also looked at UC Irvine, UC Davis and UC San Diego before settling on UC Santa Barbara.
Amy chose the Gauchos because of the team, coaching, weather and one other thing.
"The education there was also a deciding factor," she said.
So far Amy, who will be entering her junior year in the fall, has enjoyed her time at UCSB and has competed in the breaststroke, IM and middle distance freestyle.
"It's been something I've never experienced in my life she said of competing with the team. "It's been one of a kind."
While competing at UCSB, Amy has noticed a difference between swimming at the high school level and the college level.
According to Amy, college level swimmers compete more as a team rather than individually at the high school level.
Following college, Amy would like to compete in the Triathlon with the hopes of going to Nationals and possibly the Olympics.
However, if her athletic career does not work out, Amy is currently majoring in bio chemistry with an emphasis in biology. She would also like to go to med school.
Meanwhile, Jennifer, who graduated from Taft High in 1999, first attended Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo and competed on the swim team there.
However, after one year Jennifer transferred to Bakersfield College because she felt that the deaf services and programs were better at Bakersfield College.
Due to the transfer, Jennifer had to give up competitive swiming because Bakersfield College did not have a swim team.
During the time away from swimming Jennifer worked out by lifting weights and running. After graduating from Bakersfield College with an AA degree, Jennifer transferred to Cal State Bakersfield and was able to join the swim team.
Right now, Jennifer competes in the 100m and 200m for the Lady Roadrunners. While she is back competing, Jennifer says the communication between she and her teammates is sometimes tough.
However, CSUB swimming coach Pat Skehan makes it easier for Jennifer.
"Pat always writes down on the board at swim practice that she makes sure that I don't feel left out and I understand what is going on," said Jennifer.
Besides swimming Jennifer is majoring in art and plans to go to art school with the hopes of getting a master's degree after she graduates from Cal State Bakersfield.
Following college, Jennifer hopes to design children's books and do computer graphics.
While both are at different colleges hundreds of miles away from each other, Jennifer feels close to her sister and considers Amy a best friend because "we always are there to listen, talk, hug and understand from each other."
Every day someone attends a sporting event to escape the rigors of life. Sometimes, though, those troubles are not limited to the fans. Taft sisters and former Taft High swimmers Amy and Jennifer Mitchell know something about the latter as they compete for their respective college swim teams.
Amy, the younger of the two sisters, started her swimming career at a young age when she competed for the Tiger Sharks. After a couple of years, Amy joined the Bakersfield Swim Club when she was nine.
In high school, Amy swam the 200 and 400 IM, breaststroke, the freestyle and butterfly.
"I did it all in high school," she said.
Meanwhile, Jennifer, who is 24 years old, also swam the 200 IM while competing in the 200 and 500 freestyle. However, there is one difference between the two of them.
Amy could hear while Jennifer has been deaf since she was born. The idea of not being able to hear bothered Jennifer.
"I was very frustrated and angry for being unable to hear because most of the people did not understand how I feel about being deaf," Jennifer said by e-mail. "They did not respect me."
Finally in her senior year of high school, Jennifer, who was 17 at the time, got a Cochlear Implant. With the surgery Jennifer was able to understand different sounds while helping her with english, spelling and lip reading.
"After I had my surgery, the anger I had inside is gone," said Jennifer. "My most favorite sound is to listen to the ocean waves crash, they are so beautiful and realizing to hear."
After both graduated from high school, Amy had hopes of attending the University of Southern California. However, she was not accepted.
Besides USC, Amy had also looked at UC Irvine, UC Davis and UC San Diego before settling on UC Santa Barbara.
Amy chose the Gauchos because of the team, coaching, weather and one other thing.
"The education there was also a deciding factor," she said.
So far Amy, who will be entering her junior year in the fall, has enjoyed her time at UCSB and has competed in the breaststroke, IM and middle distance freestyle.
"It's been something I've never experienced in my life she said of competing with the team. "It's been one of a kind."
While competing at UCSB, Amy has noticed a difference between swimming at the high school level and the college level.
According to Amy, college level swimmers compete more as a team rather than individually at the high school level.
Following college, Amy would like to compete in the Triathlon with the hopes of going to Nationals and possibly the Olympics.
However, if her athletic career does not work out, Amy is currently majoring in bio chemistry with an emphasis in biology. She would also like to go to med school.
Meanwhile, Jennifer, who graduated from Taft High in 1999, first attended Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo and competed on the swim team there.
However, after one year Jennifer transferred to Bakersfield College because she felt that the deaf services and programs were better at Bakersfield College.
Due to the transfer, Jennifer had to give up competitive swiming because Bakersfield College did not have a swim team.
During the time away from swimming Jennifer worked out by lifting weights and running. After graduating from Bakersfield College with an AA degree, Jennifer transferred to Cal State Bakersfield and was able to join the swim team.
Right now, Jennifer competes in the 100m and 200m for the Lady Roadrunners. While she is back competing, Jennifer says the communication between she and her teammates is sometimes tough.
However, CSUB swimming coach Pat Skehan makes it easier for Jennifer.
"Pat always writes down on the board at swim practice that she makes sure that I don't feel left out and I understand what is going on," said Jennifer.
Besides swimming Jennifer is majoring in art and plans to go to art school with the hopes of getting a master's degree after she graduates from Cal State Bakersfield.
Following college, Jennifer hopes to design children's books and do computer graphics.
While both are at different colleges hundreds of miles away from each other, Jennifer feels close to her sister and considers Amy a best friend because "we always are there to listen, talk, hug and understand from each other."