State trying to catch up with Oakwood swimmer

OAKWOOD — He’s a future engineer and he earned a perfect score on the math portion of the SAT. But sometimes numbers can even surprise Oakwood High School swimmer Daniel Schmitz.

Schmitz, a Division II state title contender in both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle, posted the state’s top times —D-I swimmers included — by sweeping those two events at the Southwest Classic meet Jan. 17.

Schmitz wasn’t the top seed going into those events, but he emerged as the swimmer to beat by winning the 100 in 46.71 seconds and the 200 in 1 minute, 41.94 seconds.

“I really wanted to win the 100, but I didn’t know I would go under 47,” said Schmitz, the only swimmer to do so at the Classic. “I was just kind of shocked. I had no idea I would be going so fast.”

So far, Schmitz and Dublin Scioto’s Jacob Schuster (46.87) are the only swimmers to post times under 47 seconds in the 100, according to swimmeet.com.

“Just to watch him, it was incredible to watch the drive he had and the force to take those events,” Oakwood swimming coach Jennifer Jervis said. “We’re going to miss him a lot because you don’t replace someone like Daniel. ... It’s the determination he has to come from behind.”

In the swim of things

Standing 6-feet tall and weighing about 150 pounds, Schmitz admits he isn’t the most imposing swimmer on the blocks.

Yet at the Classic, he wanted to do his best “Jaws” impression: He wanted to scare everyone out of the water.

Schmitz figured if he was intimidating enough with his time in the 100 it might encourage competitors to reconsider that event.

“A couple of the guys going to state have three or four events they are really good at,” Schmitz said. “I was hoping posting that good time would scare a couple of those guys out of those events and give me a better chance to win them.”

Going the distance

A distance and mid-distance swimmer last season, Schmitz decided to concentrate on sprints his senior year. In addition to that coveted state title, the switch could net him a few more school records, too. Schmitz said he already holds the 100 free, 100 backstroke and 500 free. He’s close to adding the 50 free and 200 free.

“The more he wins, and the better he gets, the more relaxed and laid back he becomes,” Jervis said of Schmitz’s approach. “A lot of kids it works the opposite. The perception in sports is they might get a big head (the more they win). But he’s one of nicest young men you’ll ever meet.”

Building a future

The pool isn’t the only place Schmitz is making a splash. He was accepted by the United States Air Force Academy — the opportunity to travel was a definite plus — where he plans to study engineering.

His father also is an engineer and helped him improve his strokes.

“Really when I started swimming he started to get an eye for the sport,” said Schmitz, the son of Steve and Wendy Schmitz. “He would study it. He’s an engineer so he went into the whole physics of it.”

And so far, it’s all adding up for Schmitz.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2400, ext. 6991, or gbilling
@DaytonDailyNews.com.