Winning one individual ACC title in her first year was not enough. Sophomore Brielle White, the champion of the 100-yard backstroke at last year's ACC championships, underwent a new training regime and attitude transformation this past season. Her efforts thrusted her to two more conference titles this year and pushed her into the national spotlight at the Women's NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships this weekend at Texas A&M University.
White swam to victories in the 100 and 200 backstroke events at the ACC championships while setting ACC, pool and meet records for each race. Her times in those events rank her in third place nationally in the 100 back and 14th in the 200 back heading into the NCAA championships.
Part of the reason for her new success in the 200 resulted from a change in her training strategies. After working out as a sprinter last year, White trained this entire season as a middle distance swimmer, focusing more on yardage and increasing her intensity. Not only did this speed up her 200 time, but it also helped her 100 mark.
"The greatest impetus for improvement came from within," Virginia coach Mark Bernardino said. "She was excited to try more difficult training regimes than she had her first year, and I think that she was more self-motivated than she was a year ago. Whenever those ingredients come together usually success will follow."
Besides the new physical routine, a fresh mental outlook has also contributed to faster times. White said she has prepared to go into the Division I championships with a better mind-set.
"Attitude is very important," White said. "If I have a bad attitude I won't swim well. Last year my attitude wasn't as positive at NCAAs. I think I matured a lot going into my second year at U.Va."
White isn't the only one who thinks a positive approach makes a difference. Her coach agrees that the right attitude is a key to victory.
"She has one of the greatest smiles in the world in my opinion -- [it] just lights up her whole face," Bernardino said. "I think if she carries that relaxed, happy attitude into the NCAA meet, it's going to bode well for her chances of success."
Many other Cavalier swimmers are also having successful seasons. Virginia will send eight swimmers to NCAAs. Although this is less than the 12 they sent last year, White said the swimmers are ranked higher so they can improve upon last season's 13th place performance. Sophomore Rachael Burke, who won the 500 at the ACC championships, is ranked seventh in that event and sixth in the mile. Freshman Kimi Kelly, who won the ACC title in the mile, is seeded fifth in that event and 17th in the 500. The Cavaliers' 200 and 400 relay teams both have the 19th fastest times.
It's "not quite as many top eight rankings as we're used to having," Bernardino said. "Our relays are a little bit lagging ... If we can score three relays in the top 15 that will help our cause of being a higher finishing team at the end."
The Cavaliers are also sending some fresh faces to the meet. Freshmen Rory Schmidt has the 16th fastest time in the 500 free and Jenny Steiner is seeded 20th in the 200 breaststroke and 27th in the 100 breast.
Sophomore Corey Berg and seniors Amy Baly and Cynthia Roller will also head to Texas with rankings in the top 32 in the 200 back, 400 individual medley and 100 fly, respectively.
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