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17 year old freestyler, Stefanie Scherwitzel from Trinity College in Adelaide, Australia, has committed to swim for East Carolina University beginning in 2016-17. Scherwitzel’s family told SwimSwam: “ECU Coaches, Rick Kobe, Matthew Jabs and Kate Moore were amazingly helpful throughout the recruiting process, and really made her feel wanted as a member of the ECU Pirates team for the future…it really felt like a big family…and given she will be so far away from home, the family feel is something she will look forward to.”
Scherwitzel swims for the Playford Aquatic Club, and is a multiple State Age and Open Champion in the 100m, 200m and 400m free, and a Australian National silver medalist in the 200m free (2:02:12 in 2013). She was a 4x200m free relay swimmer in the 2013 Australian Youth Team and competed at 2013 Junior Worlds in Dubai, UAE. Scherwitzel is her School, Club and State Team Swimming Captain, and will represent South Australia at the upcoming Pacific School Games in Adelaide, Australia from November 21-27, 2015.
| SCM | SCY converted | |
| 50m free | 26.79 | 24.13 |
| 100m free | 57.04 | 51.38 |
| 200m free | 1:58.79 | 1:47.21 |
| 400m free | 4:15.37 | 4:54.44 |
| 800m free | 9:02.33 | 10:25.31 |
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 13, Scherwitzel has spent most of her swimming career dealing with doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. Through it all, she has, according to her family, “developed an appreciation of the health sciences…and so would like to be a physiotherapist / health science professional in the future, using her Diabetes and Sporting background to educate and inspire others. Stef was really impressed with the high quality reputation and facilities of ECU’s health science program, which we hope will lead to a postgrad degree in physiotherapy. Two of Stef’s role models in Swimming have been Anna McVann, 1984 Australian Team Olympian, who is an Physio in SA, and your own Gary Hall Jr, an amazing and inspiring Olympic Medalist and Type 1 Diabetic, who has proven that Diabetes is no barrier to success both in and out of the water.”
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So proud of you girl. You are a fantastic inspiration for other young people wirh Type 1 Diabetes. Just goes to show that with determination and hard work you can reach your dreams in spite of diabetes. So happy for you.
Congratulations Stef and enjoy the experience, I’m sure you will!!
Good luck with PSG.
Congratulations Stefi. Your grandma is so very proud of you, I love hearing all her stories about you.
Well done young lady, You are a credit to yourself and your family. I will follow your progress in the swimming world with interest. All the best is the States.
Hugs, Burv.
Well done Stefi. I am very proud of you.
Congrats Stef…what an awesome adventure.
Thanks to the ECU family for the opportunty you have provided to Stef.
Go Pirates!!!
Congratulations Stef, we are so very proud of you and wish you all the very best for 2016 and beyond
Love Renate & Heinz