Rockland Swimmer Cummings Invited to National Select Camp

USA Swimming brings in 60 of the top athletes in the country to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO for its National Select Camp. They earn their places with their times in the pool.

Nyack High School Freshman Carly Cummings joined that group this year, earning a four-day experience that began Thursday in Colorado Springs.

"It's a pretty great thing," said Jim Wargo, one of her coaches with the Clarkstown Condors, who made the trip with her to Colorado. "She gets to swim with some really fast swimmers from across the nation. The experience of the camp is to help kids get to that next level. It's preparing kids to be on the national or junior national team level. A good percentage of the kids in this camp go on to a national team."

"Just going to the Olympic Training Center itself is a once in a lifetime opportunity I'm really excited for," Cumming said. "I'm excited to meet other people I've never met before and learn more about the sport itself, how to get to the next level and be a better athlete."

Cumming is already nationally ranked in the 200 Yard Individual Medley, 400 IM and 100 Breaststroke. She has been swimming for the Condors Swim Club since she was eight. She joined Condors teammates Emily Escobedo and Taylor Lawson at the USA Junior National Swimming Championships in Irvine, CA in August, where they met three-time Olympic gold medalist Rebecca Soni. That gave her the opportunity to see the prize she would like to pursue.

"When she pulled out the gold medal, you can feel the chills," Cummings said. "Meeting somebody that special and dedicated to the sport is motivating and a once in a lifetime opportunity I'll never forget. To meet her and ask her questions personally. It's amazing."

She said that Wargo and Frank Keefe, another coach with the Condors, played a key role in her accomplishments so far. 

"I don't think I would be able to get this opportunity without my coaches, Coach Jim and Coach Frank" Cummings said. "IU would never come close to this if not for them."

She said Wargo started pushing her early on and helped her set higher goals such as swimming for a U.S. national team.

"Getting the chance to have United States written on my cap someday, to have a chance to be on the national team someday is mind-blowing," Cummings said.

Wargo said the National Select Camp can help in many ways, from providing motivation to helping her be more comfortable in events such as junior nationals going forward.

"She's one of the most educated swimmers that you'l meet," Wargo said. "She's highly motivated and highly determined."

He added that the camp is also a good opportunity for the coaches. 

"It's great for me," Wargo said. "The put the coaches on a separate track (from the swimmers). They have a number of talks and presentations. We're getting to learn and take advantage of this opportunity, too."