The fast learner

BALTIMORE — In high school, John Thomas was never one to be overwhelmed by anything.

Academically, Thomas was Montrose High’s valedictorian his senior year and went on to attend the prestigious Johns Hopkins University. Athletically, he was a three-time state swimming champion for the Indians and earned a full athletic scholarship to swim for the currently third-ranked Blue Jays.

During his freshman year at JHU, though, Thomas got all he could handle in both of those areas.

After being one of the premier high school swimmers in all of Colorado, Thomas quickly learned that his new college teammates and opponents were just as good, if not better, at Johns Hopkins, a Division III program widely regarded as one of the nation’s best.

In order to keep up in the pool, he had to sacrifice his performance in the classroom. At some points, Thomas said he was so tired from training that he would catch himself falling asleep during his courses, something not highly suggested at an institution that has produced 32 Nobel Prize winners.

For the first time in his life, Thomas’ dedication was put to test. Without his family or friends from back home there to guide him, he was faced with the decision to either give up or to persevere. As it turned out, Thomas chose the latter.

After re-prioritizing his life following his freshman year, Thomas entered his sophomore campaign with a newfound determination, and things couldn’t be better.

On Dec. 5, Thomas was named the Men’s Division III National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week when he broke two individual school records and was a part of two record-breaking relay teams at the Nike Cup Invitational. In that meet, Thomas qualified for the national championships in every relay event as well as the 100- and 200-yard backstroke.

He’s also right on track to earn a degree in biomedical engineering in four years.

“I’m finally starting to get a grip on things this year,” Thomas said. “Last year wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle, but it was kind of crazy. I didn’t have any clue what to do, and I spent the whole year kind of running around before I got down to Earth and got focused.”

Granted, Thomas’ definition of slipping up in school is getting a B in a class instead of an A, but considering his high school success, it was viewed as a significant drop off.

In Montrose, Thomas could essentially do no wrong. Not only was he an exemplary student, but he was one of the best male swimmers MHS has ever seen. Along with his three individual state titles, he won seven more as a member of relay teams, and he still holds the Montrose school record in the backstroke.

Thomas said he basically grew up with Montrose swimming, as he took up the sport at age 11 with the Montrose Marlins. To this day, he still keeps in touch with MHS head swimming coach Silas Almgren and occasionally comes back to help give advice to current Montrose High and Marlin swimmers.

“I’ve been very fortunate to not only coach him since he was 11, but to be able to develop a friendship with a young man like John,” Almgren said. “It just goes to show you how willing some of the kids that come through our program are willing to work at the highest level. We’ve tried to instill a tradition and standard within the program to them at an early age.

“Our kids now have benefitted from looking at John and seeing where he is now and what he’s achieved, just like he benefitted from the kids that came before him.”

With the Eastern College Athletic Conference championships coming up on Feb. 29 and the national championships following up on Mar. 20, Thomas is setting his focus on taking his collegiate career to the next level. According to Almgren, Thomas, even as a sophomore, could make a push for both conference and national titles in both backstrokes and every relay event.

But the higher he ascends up the ladder of swimming success, Thomas said he could never lose touch with the first rungs he climbed back in Montrose.

“I can’t really pinpoint how or why, but I am who I am in a way because of the Montrose swimming program,” Thomas said. “I grew up with that team.”

Contact Robin Washut via e-mail at robinw@montrosepress.com