Cougars Swimmer Not Spouting Off

Erin Eldridge was the first Cougar to win a medal at the Pac-10 Swimming Championships.

She has qualified for the Olympic Trials.

She holds Washington State University records in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke and the 200 and 400 medley relays.

She was the first WSU swimmer in the 21-year history of the program to qualify for the NCAA Championships last year.

She was the only qualifier this season.

And she greets this list of accolades with a “Who me?” and a shrug of the shoulders.

But not even the humble Eldridge can sidestep the spotlight this week.

Because this week, she once again carries the hopes of Washington State at the NCAA Championships in Athens, Ga. Today, the junior will step up to the edge of the pool, adjust her goggles, check that lucky rubber band on her wrist, and compete for the NCAA title in the 100 and 200 breaststroke.

And here what she has to say about it: “Yeah, I guess it’s kinda cool.”

Eldridge is trying to be realistic about the whole thing. Last year, well, she really doesn’t want to remember last year, it wasn’t her best race.

After hemming and hawing, she admitted she finished 25th.

“Big disappointment,” she said. “I just didn’t race well at all. I don’t know, maybe it was the nerves of never having been there and not knowing what to expect. It just wasn’t good.”

But this year already is shaping up to be much different than last year. The swimmer from Kirkland, Wash., who everybody passed over out of high school has been passing almost everybody in the pool.

She has shaved more than 2 seconds off her 100-meter time and more than 3 seconds off her 200-meter time.

“But the favorite, the girl that won it last year, she swam a 59:05,” said Eldridge, whose best time is 1:02.19. “For me to win, it would take more than my perfect race.”

So, she’s being realistic. Going into this week she has the ninth- and 10th-best times in the nation. Top 10 should be a lock.

“But last year, I added 2 seconds on my time at nationals,” she said.

Of course, last year she was as green as the local park pool.

This year, she has experience, is posting better times, and finally, after much goading, has admitted she can finish in the top five.

“I think I can do that.”

Whatever she does, it will be another first for Eldridge and Washington State.