In Saturday’s NCAA swimming and diving championship, Joe Kinderwater had a chance to realize a four-year long dream.
But for a moment, the senior almost saw it float away.
Kinderwater went into Saturday’s championship a three-time first-team All-America and with a top eight finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle, the senior had a chance to make it four-for-four.
The freestyler was used to swimming in the final heat in the event, but a ninth-place finish in Saturday’s preliminaries put him just outside of earning a spot.
Kinderwater refused to let it set him back.
From a less-than-ideal afternoon heat, the senior cruised to a fifth-place overall finish in the event and helped the men grab 14th place in the championship meet, its best finish since 1993.
Kinderwater’s finish made him the third four-time first-team All-American in UNC men’s swimming history, and the first in more than 25 years.
The co-captain will leave big shoes to fill. And no one knows that more than his teammates.
Senior Tyler Harris was at a loss for words when describing Kinderwater’s value to the team.