Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Andrew Cole

Barry Faulkner

While some may say Newport Harbor High standout Andrew Cole swims

in the shadow of Olympic silver medalist and backstroke world-record

holder Aaron Peirsol, Cole prefers to look at it as swimming under his

heralded teammate’s wing.

Call it spin, but Cole makes a convincing case that Peirsol has

positively influenced his performance since he moved to Newport from

Sandy, Utah in the Olympic summer of 2000.

“Since backstroke is my favorite event, I’ve known about Aaron and

thought, ‘Wow!, I wish I could be that fast,’ ” Cole said. “Then, we

moved to California and I ended up at the same school as him. I was

shocked.”

Cole and Peirsol, who both train with Irvine Novaquatics, have forged

a friendship and Cole said he benefits greatly from working out one lane

away from his club and prep teammate. But Cole also admits trying to keep

up with the current backstroke world champion is often a humbling

experience.

“Sometimes, it’s kind of hard, because he’s on a completely different

level,” Cole said. “So I kind of wish for the days when Aaron isn’t

feeling at his best and I’m feeling really good. He always encourages me

to keep pushing it, but he’s always a body length ahead.”

It has taken a world-class effort to get ahead of Cole during the

current prep season.

And while the former multiple Utah state champion, who set several

age-group records in his native state, has been a force in the 100-yard

backstroke for the Sailors, he is unbeaten in the 100 freestyle,

including Wednesday’s CIF Southern Section Division I Preliminaries at

Belmont Plaza.

Cole won both of his specialties at Friday’s Sea View League Finals.

It was Cole’s second straight league crown in the 100 free, with a time

of 48.21. He also took advantage of Peirsol’s absence to win the 100 back

in 53.56.

To top off his day, he contributed to Harbor victories in the 200 and

400 free relays.

Cole was second in the backstroke at the 2001 league finals. He then

went on to finish fourth in the 100 back and fifth in the 100 free, while

contributing to a championship 400 free relay, at CIF Division I Finals.

Newport Coach Jason Lynch said Cole is intent on protecting his

perfect season in the 100 free.

“He hasn’t lost this year and his goal, right now, is to keep it that

way,” Lynch said. “He could win (the 100 free) at CIF. “He’s a big

strong, explosive kid who has a lot of talent.”

Cole backed up his coach’s confidence by posting the top qualifying

time at CIF prelims Wednesday. He also qualified second in the

backstroke, behind Peirsol.

Cole also turned in an impressive performance earlier this season at

the Millikan Southern Section Relays. He led off winning efforts in the

4x100 free, the 6x50 free and the 4x50 backstroke. His leadoff leg in the

4x100 was a sizzling 46.81.

“My goals are to hopefully get a high 45 or a low 46 in the 100 free

and, for the 100 back, to break 50,” he said.

Cole’s success this spring is even more remarkable, considering his

commitment to the school’s recent production of “Guys and Dolls.”

Said Cole, “I haven’t been focusing on swimming as much as I’d like

to. I’ve been in a couple school plays, which has taken a lot of my

attention.”

Cole said he likes to be the center of attention, whether on stage or

in the pool. And, with Peirsol headed for the University of Texas next

season, he figures to occupy center stage for the Sailors.