Greenwood’s top swimmer Nathan Wu is a threat to win the state title in three separate events. But it turns out swimming might not even be the thing he’s best at. “Piano is another one of my extracurriculars that I do,” said Nathan. “And I regularly compete in competitions. Hearing things and actually understanding melodies and just interpreting music is just really fun to me.”
So for his coach, it was music to his ears to hear that Nathan, who sat out his junior season last year to swim at the club level, was returning for his senior year. “His sophomore year I think he went 2:03 for his IM [Individual Medley],” said John T. Mullen, Greenwood’s head coach. “Well now he’s a 1:53. You don’t usually drop ten seconds when you’re on an elite level.”
Nathan’s year away honing his skills proved to be a stroke of genius. “Some college coach is going to get a dream. because I don’t think he’s hit what he can do,” Mullen said. “I think he’ll drop more.”
While Nathan has yet to decide where he’ll swim at the next level he does known what he wants to do next. “I hope my face can be on here someday with my name,” Nathan said, pointing to the Wall of Champions at Springfield’s Natatorium. “With my events the 100 breast and 200 IM as state champion.”
His other goal may be where he makes his biggest splash. Let’s just say he’s diving right in. “Another one of my extracurriculars I started was coding as well,” Nathan said. “I had a project at a science fair and I qualified for the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles.”
So whether this sport ranks first, second, or third on his list of talents, he’s hoping to end his season swimmingly.
