In the final day of the Roger Hill Invitational at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center, Gnatzig won her age group in the 200-meter backstroke and was third in the 400 freestyle.

And while competing is nice, Gnatzig said, serving as a mentor for the younger Aquahawks was better.

“I think when they come here and swim and see us perform, it gives them something to shoot for,” Gnatzig said. “We just try to keep the sport fun. Right now, at their age, they shouldn’t be so serious. They see that you can go on to college and still have a good time with it.”

Sunday’s performances by the KU athletes competing for the Aquahawks provided plenty for the younger team members to learn from. Senior Amy Gruber won the 400 freestyle and the 100 free, and senior Miranda Isaac won the 200 breaststroke.

Jared Soares/Journal-World Photo

“I have a theory that if you’re around excellence, you become excellent,” Aquahawks coach Mike Soderling said. “You learn how to behave, learn how to be an athlete, learn how to excel and learn by example.”

Two younger Aquahawks who have benefited from working with the Jayhawk swimmers are 12-year-old Heather Clark and 11-year-old Emma Reaney. Sunday, Clark took 11th place of 60 swimmers aged 12-21 in the 200 backstroke with an astounding time of 2:40:60. Reaney, the youngest competitor in the 200 breaststroke, took ninth. The Aquahawks’ Elle Weber, the only other 11-year-old in the breaststroke, took 27th.

Clark displays swimming maturity years beyond her age and says she loves practicing with the Jayhawks, who have been through the same learning process she is going through.

Another Aquahawk who has grown by having Division One teammates is Alex Brunfeldt. Brunfeldt, a 2004 Free State graduate who will swim at Indiana University this fall, took won the 200 backstroke and the 400 free. He learned competitive skills from the Jayhawks and also learned how to be a leader himself.

“It really pushed me to see if I could be as fast as them one day, and I kind of emulated them in practice,” Brunfeldt said. “I try my best in practice every day, so when the little kids are watching, they know that it’s all right to give your all every day, even though you don’t want to sometimes.”

Of course, with members of the Kansas swim team present at practices and competitions, Soderling typically sees younger swimmers step up in front of their veteran teammates. To be more specific, his male youth swimmers seem to put forth a little extra effort.

6Sports video: Roger Hill Invitational wraps up (7-12-04)

“You know, if you’re a 17-year-old boy, you’d want to impress the college women,” Soderling joked.

But is it true? One Aquahawk who can attest to Soderling’s theory is Brunfeldt.

“I can’t remember a specific instance,” Brunfeldt chuckled. “But I think it tends to happen because ladies like the faster swimmers.”