What can you get done in under a minute? For most people, the answer is not a lot. Well Lakes star swimmer Mitch Gedville might say otherwise. He can swim backstroke the length of an Olympic sized swimming pool twice in precisely 52.6 seconds. In fact, this was his state qualifying time from last year. Gedville returns this year to the team as the only senior swimmer and with high expectations to repeat his success from last season. Gedville’s love of swimming started at a young age when his parents signed him up for swim classes. 

“They wanted me to just be comfortable in the water,” Gedville said.

Once he started, he never looked back. From there, he has kept swimming for the past 12 years. What has consistently pushed Gedville to become a better swimmer throughout all those years has been his Dad. He was the one who pushed him for lessons, and now is his inspiration to improve everyday.

“He truly wants me to be my best and perform at my greatest ability,” Gedville said.

Last year, Gedville saw some great success. He went down state for his first time in his swimming career. Now, in the upcoming months, Gedville will get another chance to take a trip down to Westmont. But this trip is not guaranteed. The past year has been filled with highs and lows for Gedville. During the fall, Gedville got hit with a nasty virus and was forbidden to swim for months.  

“I really had just had to restart from the beginning and regain all of my strength and abilities back,” Gedville said.

Despite Gedville’s struggles, he is still practicing everyday in the chase of winning state. He currently swims for Rise Aquatics in Libertyville, and will swim in the hundred meter backstroke and the 200 meter Individual Medley events. Gedville plans to continue his swimming career in college as he is committed to swim at Northern Kentucky University.