Adams eyes lofty swimming goals

Like millions of other Americans, Terrebonne High School senior Alec Adams watched with awe this summer as world records fell in the swimming pool at the Rio Olympics.

“I was astonished by Katie Ledecky’s swims,” Adams said. “I was very excited with all of the new faces in the pool.”

But unlike other American swimming fans, Adams knows how it feels to be gliding through a swimming pool faster than the competition.

Adams is a multi-year swimmer for the Tigers – a competitor who is widely regarded as the best prep swimmer in the Houma-Thibodaux area.

Adams’ recorded times are so good that he’s considered to be among the favorites in Louisiana in several events – success which has him eying a college scholarship once the season ends.

“I had a three-week break before school started for my offseason, and during that time, I tried to stay out of the water as much as possible, while still being active,” Adams said. “But now, I am practicing nine times a week, and I am in the best shape of my life. I am ready for my senior year. I think it’s going to be my best one yet.”

For Adams, the 2016 season will mark the end of a storied prep career in the pool.

The Tigers standout said he’s been a swimmer since he was 3 years old, but added that he never took the sport too seriously until he got to high school.

Once he did, the diligence paid immediate dividends.

Adams was a First-Team All-District performer as a sophomore in 2014. He burst on the scene and won several medals in his inaugural season as a Tiger.

By 2015, Adams was a full-blown force – a swimmer the Tigers rely on to contribute in the maximum allotment of events during every meet.

At last year’s district championship meet, Adams won four gold medals – two individual and two relays – to help the Tigers score a runner-up finish.

His performance wowed many at the pool, including South Lafourche coach Corey Callais, who said Adams is one of the best he’s seen in a while.

“They have some excellent swimmers (at Terrebonne),” Callais said at the district meet. “And Alec is one of them. He is one of the leaders of their team. He’s a very good competitor, and he’s very good in the events that he swims.”

“I have gotten better and better over the last three years,” Adams added. “I have learned so much, not only from my coaches, but from my teammates as well.”

But now, Adams wants to push to win it all.

The Terrebonne senior said he’s working hard in the 200-meter freestyle and the 100-meter fly, and he hopes to compete in a high level at each of those at the state meet.

Adams said he has certain times in his head that he hopes to accomplish before the year runs out.

He’s already off to a pretty good start, winning first-place honors in the 200-yard medley relay, the 200-yard freestyle, the 100-yard butterfly and the 400-yard freestyle relay in the season-opening meet against Thibodaux – a meet Terrebonne won by a comfortable 119-46 margin.

“I want to swim my best at state,” Adams said. “My goals for this season are to swim under 1-minute, 45-seconds in the 200-freestyle and under 54-seconds in the 100-fly at state.”

And once the season is over, he hopes to secure a college scholarship, as well.

Adams said he’s been receiving interest from programs around the Southeast, and he hopes to start making official visits and narrowing down the choices in the future. •

Alec Adams

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