Making Waves: Andover All-American to Swim for College of Charleston

Jayme Groth, All-American swimmer at Bloomfield Hills Andover, will head to South Carolina this fall to attend the historic College of Charleston, where she hopes to continue swimming her way to success with the Charleston Cougars.

The team placed seventh in the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) league championship meet this season.

“The team is an up-and-coming one, and I know I’ll love to be a part of it,” she said recently upon completing her last high school final exams.

Groth, who also had her eye on Denison University in Ohio, is no stranger to the South. Her cousin Paul lives in Charleston, her aunt lives in Georgia, and Jayme is a frequent visitor.

“I’m a Southern belle,” she joked.

Groth said she plans to study health sciences at Charleston but has no particular career goal in mind at this point.

A swimmer all the way

The daughter of Dean and Nancy Groth, Jayme has been a water baby since her preschool years. She first put her head underwater at age 2, joined the Plum Hollow Country Club summer team at age of 4 and has spent the summers swimming for the Birmingham-Bloomfield Atlantis club team since the age of 10.

Swimming is clearly in her genes: Her three older siblings – Amy, Kadie and Kevin – and her father also swam at Andover. Kevin went on to swim for Kalamazoo College.

Last fall, she achieved All-American status with her swim in the 50-freestyle,  and landed on several “top 10” lists at Andover by smashing school records that stood since the 1980s.

“Jayme is a terrific kid and outstanding athlete,” said varsity coach David Zulkiewski. “She’s a true competitor and loves to race.

“Over the course of four years, she’s won five individual state titles and broken numerous records – but the learning process and growth over the four years has been just as impressive," he said.

Zulkiewski said she’s tried different events and different training techniques to stay in shape and compete at high level. Groth stayed focused on her goals but adapted as the competition changed.

It's a sign that she loves the sport and embraces the lifestyle and dedication level required to be a top-level swimmer, he said.

“I know she’ll find success at the next level because she embodies the idea of dedication, commitment and focus," Zulkiewski said. "Her family background and experiences have given her the necessary tools to attain success at the college level.”

Groth, in turn, paid kudos to her coach.

“I got a lot out of my swim career at school,” she said. “My coach has been great, he’s a great guy and more than a coach to me – he’s a friend and role model," she said. "I grew up with him, watched him coach my siblings, and I know I’ll stay in touch with him throughout my life.”

The next lap

While not looking to the Olympics as a goal, Jayme views American gold medal winners Natalie Coughlin and Ryan Lochte as excellent role models – but not just because of their success as part of the USA Swimming National Team.

“Both do a lot for the sport and get children involved in it,” she said.

Groth graduated from Andover on Sunday and Model High School during a separate ceremony earlier this month. For two decades, Model has offered students that are accepted the opportunity for a more self-directed curriculum. There are no tests, but student-directed projects.

She's also kept herself busy outside of the pool.

When not in the water, she spent four years in the school choir, performed in school plays and assisted with other shows when her swim schedule didn’t allow time to be a performer. She also participated in the school yearbook.

Before moving South, Groth said will share her expertise with other youngsters as a coach at the and will spend her spare time “just hanging out with friends and family.”