She had options but Maggie Scherder chose swimming.
Or maybe swimming chose her.
“I used to do gymnastics, soccer and I used to dance,” Scherder said. “But I love swimming.”
Now the 16-year-old just about lives in the swimming pool at Dunlap High School. The backstroke, the breast stroke, freestyle.
This summer, she competed for the U.S. in the World Downs Syndrome Games in Canada where she won three medals. Including one in her least-favorite event.
“I got first place in my heat in the 50 butterfly and that’s my worst stroke,” Scherder said. But I came in first!”
Maggie Scherder always seems to come in first with her attitude.
“I”m happy and I get to hang with my friends. I’m happy either way,” Scherder said.
The sophomore says being a part of the Eagles swim team is something special to her. But her
teammates say having Maggie on the team is something special for them.
“The thing Maggie shows us the most is even if we have a bad day, you can still be nice to each other, encourage each other,” senior Caroline Shively said. “She’s really a good example of it. Always happy and cheering us on.”
