Allison Thirion has a sense of humor.
"We always joke that the hardest part of practice is just getting in the pool," said Thirion.
However, once in the water, this Warren Harding senior is not laughing. She is working.
"You're sitting there staring at a black line for two hours telling your body to go, go, go, and all it's saying is stop."
Thirion is a two-time state qualifier for the Raiders in both the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle. Now, as a senior, she is also competing in the 100-yard backstroke and hoping for similar success.
"Practice is hard, but you know what's harder? Missing States by one place; missing your best time by one second," said Thirion. "There's always that light at the end of the tunnel that says if I just keep going today I'm going to make it."
Thirion's goals far exceed the water. She has a 4.2 grade point average and has been named an Academic All-American. She hopes one day to take her talents to the operating table as a heart surgeon.
"I like to go big or go home," said Thirion. "Swimming has taught me that. Hopefully, I'll be able to apply what I've learned through swimming to getting me through college, medical school, and becoming a great surgeon some day."
She is Student Council President, a member of Key Club, National Honor Society, and Peer Tutoring. She also spends time volunteering on the surgical floor at St. Joe's Hospital in Warren.
For making a splash in everything she does, we honor Warren Harding's Allison Thirion as our Student Athlete of the Week.
