Melanie Holmes took up competitive swimming three months ago. Now the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts senior be swimming for a state championship.
Holmes will compete in the 100-meter breaststroke and 100-meter freestyle events at the Class 5A State Swim Meet to be held at the Russellville Aquatic Center on Feb. 24. She qualified for those events by recently finishing second in the breaststroke and fourth in freestyle at the 5A South Conference meet as a member of the Hot Springs High school team.
“It was thrilling to push myself past limits I thought were set in stone, especially because I am so new to the sport,” said Holmes, who is from Atkins. “Qualifying for State was something I hadn’t even thought about at the beginning of the season, but it became my goal after I realized I was capable.”
Holmes said she started swimming because she “always loved the water” and wanted a new challenge to conquer. She competed in the Class 5A State Golf Tournament in 2022 and 2023.
“Swim has been one of the greatest times in my life. It’s such a kind sport where you make so many friends,” Holmes said.