North Carolina State University Athletics
Poolside With Dan Kesler
2/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Swimming
Feb. 27, 2003
Young Dan Kesler wasn't too excited when his mom and dad signed him up for swimming. But it's just nature's way for eight-year old children not to appreciate their parent's understanding of the need for a hobby, or in Kesler's case, a way to expel his extra energy.
Ten years later, swimming became his ticket to college.
At the age of 13, Kesler realized he was talented in the pool and better than most children his age. It was then that his eyes were opened to the sport of swimming and its benefits. He was a part of the Green Terror Aquatic Club and credits his coach Kirk Sinocki, who was honored as one of the ACC's top 50 swimmers, as the one who helped jumpstart his swimming career.
"He was my role model, a five time All-American swimmer at Maryland," says Kesler, a native of West Minster, Md. "Coach helped me to see that I had a lot of potential. In 10th grade he began to tell me a lot about going to school on swimming scholarships."
Kesler's decision to come to school at NC State is one that he is glad he made.
"It was a pretty fast team. When choosing a school, I considered the fact that by the time I would be a senior, I would be one of the fastest. Working with the coaches has really developed my ability. Plus, I liked the people and it was a good distance from home, but not tou far."
Kesler, a co-captain, on this year's team and a participant in the 2000 Olympic trials, almost didn't make it back to school this year. His mother passed away over the summer. However, he felt like he needed to be there for his teammates.
"I felt like I needed to be here to lead them," he says. "I want to try and lead them in the right direction, and I'm sure it's what my mom would have wanted."
Today, Kesler and his teammates are in Chapel Hill for the 50th Annual ACC Championships. Kesler will be one of the first competitors of the day, making a preliminary swim in the 500-yard freestyle.
"We want to finish in the top three," Kesler says. "I think we can have six guys go to NCAA's and potentially finish as All-Americans. We also want to be a top-25 team. That would be great. I just want to go to NCAA's."
