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Brittney Iverson was an all-state swimmer in her years at Crescent Valley high school in Corvallis. She has now taken her talent to the OSU pool, rewriting the record books in just her freshman year, specializing in the freestyle and Individual Medley.

An early start and a love for the sport lead to OSU records

Brittney Iverson, a Corvallis native who honed her skills at Crescent Valley High School, has already made an impact at OSU

By: Casey Grogan

Posted: 2/14/07

Swimmer Brittney Iverson is leaving her high school career behind and looking only as far ahead as her next swim.

A freshman, Iverson has quickly become a part of the OSU record book, swimming her way to all-time top-10 times in four different events. Her success stems from her true love of her sport.

Iverson began swimming at the age of 3 and never looked back. While growing up in Corvallis, Iverson gave ballet and gymnastics a chance before sticking with the sport she loved. For 11 years Iverson has been swimming competitively.

"I just loved it so much," Iverson said. "I wanted to keep on going, so I joined the Corvallis Aquatic Team. I stopped doing gymnastics because I like swimming."

Competing as an individual athlete as well as a member of a team is a different scenario for most athletes. But for Iverson, competing in a sport solo is no big deal.

"I haven't known anything else," Iverson said. "It's just normal."

Iverson rewrote the record books at Crescent Valley High School. Iverson set eight school records on her way to two state championships. Her success in the pool garnered her recognition as a four-time All-American.

"I tried not to carry it over and have a big head about it," Iverson said. "That was the past, and high school is much different from college swimming.

Out of high school Iverson received recruiting interest from No. 5 Texas A&M, No. 16 UCLA and OSU. Despite UCLA being in the top 25 on a regular basis, Iverson did not feel that Westwood was the right place for her. The fast pace of Los Angeles was a little too much for Iverson, who chose to stay close to home.

"I like the Northwest and Oregon," Iverson said. "When I came on my recruiting trip, I really liked the girls and saw it was a good team."

Iverson also realized that Oregon State provided her with a support system. Not only is her family nearby, but she also has a fellow Crescent Valley swimmer on the OSU roster. The presence of sophomore Kristen Stoner helped Iverson transition from high school to college.

The young swimmer has made a splash in the Beavers' lineup. Preparing for the Pac-10 Championships, Iverson has seven dual victories, good for sixth on the team. While Iverson is not looking toward the future beyond the Pac-10 meet, her head coach Larry Liebowitz is expecting big things from her.

"She has done a real good job so far," Liebowitz said. "I think the future of our team is in the hands of the freshman and sophomore class.

Iverson brings more than just a strong swimming ability to the Beavers' roster.

"With that kind of work ethic, she is always ready to race," Liebowitz said. "Her attitude towards the work is amazing. She always has a nice smile on her face and is ready to go."

While swimming both long distance and short distance, Iverson feels no favoritism towards either of the disciplines. However, it is the long distances that require a little extra something to keep her mind focused.

"A lot of times I will have a song stuck in my head or I will just repeat something over and over in my head," Iverson said.

Iverson has three more seasons to better herself in the pool. She is unaware of what will come in the future, but Liebowitz knows she will enjoy her years at OSU.

"You can always hear her laugh," Liebowitz said. "You can hear that giggle and know that she has a big smile on her face, enjoying what she is doing everyday."