Choctaw's Strom signs to swim at Air Force Academy

FORT WALTON BEACH – Olivia Strom sat between her parents in front of a group of about 50 faculty and friends in the Choctawhatchee High School media center yesterday and signed a letter of intent to swim at the U.S. Air Force Academy next year in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“It’s a school I’ve always wanted to swim at,” Strom said. “I know some people out there and I also have previous teammates that have gone out there and I was just talking to them about the school and everything.

“It was hard (academically),” she said, “but it was worth it. It’s one of the best schools anyways, so I couldn’t really get any better academically.”

One current Air Force cadet -- and future teammate -- Strom is very familiar with is her brother, Alex Strom, who is currently in his first year at the Academy.

“It’s nice because I heard during basic training it gets really stressful,” Strom said. “So I guess he will be somebody I can go to on Sundays, like I’d be able to go vent on him.”

Strom, the Daily News Girls’ Swimmer of the Year in 2010, has had a sensational prep career at Choctaw. As a junior, she placed 19th at state in the 500 free after winning a county and district title and placing third in the event at regional. She also won the 200 medley at county and the 200 free at district.

This past season, she finished ninth in the 200 free at this year’s state meet after winning the county championship in both the 500 free and 200 free. She took first in the 200 free at the district meet and second in the event in the regional round. Strom placed fourth in the 500 free at the regional.

Her dominance in the pool was evident, but she maintained an impressive 4.44 GPA in the classroom as well, displaying the type of balance necessary to thrive at any one of the service academies. .

Choctaw swim coach Jamie Garea certainly appreciated the example Strom set and knows her work – both in the pool and the classroom – have her equipped for the next level.

“She’s certainly prepared for it,” Garea said. “Her academics have been strenuous enough that she’s definitely ready for the rigors of an academy curriculum, and her work ethic … she’s certainly ready.

“It’s a lifestyle,” Garea added. “It’s certainly a lifestyle you have to adopt, and during high school season she’s swimming twice a day because she has morning practice, then afternoon at the club swim.”

Strom, who will serve at least the mandated five years in the Air Force after graduation, is glad to have the “hectic” application process behind her, and is excited for the challenges that lie ahead, including basic training.

 “I’m actually kind of looking forward to it,” Strom said with a smile. “I don’t think it will be as tough. I mean, it’s just basic training. It’s a lot of pushups and sit-ups.”

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