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East Bay Swimmer Making A Splash

Tribune photo by ROBERT BURKE

Tyler Ball is a senior at East Bay High School and a member of the varisty swim team. He has been swimming competitively since age 4.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 17, 2008

APOLLO BEACH - Tyler Ball learned how to swim before he learned how to walk.

"My parents enrolled me in a swimming class when I was six months old," Ball said. "They'd seen a lot of stuff on the news about little kids drowning and they wanted to make sure I was safe."

In the ensuing 17 years, Ball has proven to be more than adept in the water.

The senior has been a member of the East Bay High School swim team each of his four years as a student at the school.

"The No. 1 thing needed in swimming is dedication and Tyler has plenty of that," said Ryan Leech, who has been Ball's coach at East Bay for the past three years.

"He practices here and then drives to Brandon to swim two-a-days," said Leech, referring to the East Bay team's practices at the Apollo Beach Racquet & Fitness Club and its sister facility, the Brandon Sports & Aquatic Center. "I'm going to miss him a lot next year."

Ball competes in the individual medley and the backstroke. The senior calls the latter stroke his specialty.

Like millions across the country, he had an eye on the pool at the Summer Olympics last month, though he had a slightly different rooting interest than most.

"I'd say my favorite swimmer is Ryan Lochte," Ball said. "Everyone else is kind of going for Michael Phelps, and Lochte is from Florida."

He hopes to earn a swimming scholarship to Florida State University, University of South Carolina, University of West Virginia, University of Florida or University of Tennessee. He plans to study engineering.

Ball - who has been swimming competitively since age 4 - also hopes to join some of his heroes on the Olympic stage in 2012.

His coach, for one, doesn't doubt Ball's chances.

"He's definitely good enough to make it to the Olympic qualifiers, and he's still got three more years to grow, get physically stronger and improve as a swimmer," Leech said.

GETTING TO KNOW

WHO: Tyler Ball

AGE: 17

SCHOOL: East Bay High School

GRADE: 12th

SPORT: Swimming

FUTURE PLANS: Wants to swim collegiately, study engineering and hopes to qualify for the 2012 Olympics

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampa trib.com

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