Spring Break
Rawlings leads in water
Senior swimmer Kayla Rawlings has excelled in pool and classroom at OSU
Andy Simpson
Issue date: 2/3/09 Section: Sports
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The 5-foot-2-inch swimmer with the bright smile and easy laugh may be the last person you would expect to be in charge of this dedicated crew. But you would be wrong.
Senior Kayla Rawlings has established herself as a strong competitor and friendly spirit on the Oregon State swim team from the day she joined. However, that day almost didn't have the chance to happen.
"When I was recruiting her, I almost didn't sign her because I thought 'well she's not that tall and I don't know how much faster she's going to get'," Oregon State head coach Larry Liebowitz said. "But then she came here and got a lot faster, so I think I really made the right decision and it worked out really well."
If not for an accident in her younger years, this might be about Kayla Rawlings the gymnast.
"I started swimming when I was nine," Rawlings said. "I was actually in gymnastics but I had an accident and split my kidney. My parents and I agreed it was too dangerous of a sport and that's when I took up swimming."
The Canadian senior from White Rock, British Columbia says that the transition from a different country was an easy one.
"I am just a short plane ride away from home and Oregon is a lot like British Columbia, so I didn't have a hard time coming here," Rawlings said.
Another draw to Oregon State?
"It may sound corny, but I love the color of the leaves in fall. It's so beautiful on campus!" Rawlings said.
For Rawlings, there were many factors in her choice of OSU.
"Canada treats their athletes different than the United States and I always thought that I would come down here if I could get a scholarship," Rawlings said. "I was recruited by a couple different schools, but OSU just felt special."
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