Marshall University Athletics
BOGACZYK: Freshman Mavrova Making Quick Splash in Pool
11/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
By JACK BOGACZYK
HERDZONE.COM COLUMNIST
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – When Marshall swimming got Gloriya Mavrova’s signature on a letter of intent a year ago, Herd Coach Bill Tramel really liked her future.
He wasn’t expecting that "future" to be immediate. But if the Herd’s early 2014-15 meets are an indicator, Mavrova may be sprinting to school-record and Conference USA success.
"Not at all," Mavrova answered last week when asked if she expected to be winning NCAA Division I races right off the blocks, so to speak. "Not at all, especially when you go back to the beginning of last year.
"I knew my times weren’t as good as I prefer them to be. I didn’t expect to come in and do so well, but as I got faster, I realized I really had a chance, especially (with her times) in conference."
Mavrova was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, where she began swimming at age 5. Her family moved to Alexandria, Va., when she was 8. And in her final season in club swimming with the Potomac Marlins and in T.C. Williams High School competition, she took off.
After a pair of third-place finishes in the West Virginia State Games to start her MU career, Mavrova has two victories in the 50-yard freestyle and one in the 100 free in the following two meets for Marshall. In her third event – the 100 butterfly – she also finished third the last time out, in 57.75 seconds. She also has two second-place finishes in the last two meets.
As just one in a very promising 2014-15 MU recruiting class of 11, Mavrova already has put her name among the top seven individuals in all three events in Herd history as Marshall plays host to rival Ohio at 5 p.m. Friday at Fitch Natatorium.
"When we signed her, Gloriya was a good, solid swimmer," Tramel said. "In the scouting process, you look for people have an upside, and when we looked at her, we didn’t see this great of an upside, what we’ve seen to date.
"But after we signed her, she just took off and dropped an incredible amount of time her senior year in high school, to the extent where she was the 27th fastest 50 freestyler coming out of high school last spring.
"The 50 free is pretty much the premier event. And she was nowhere near 27th in the country when we signed her. So, we’re certainly excited to have someone of her talent."
Mavrova’s best times this season are 24.38 in the 50 free and 53.02 in the 100 free … and it’s early. How did she get there?
"I’m not sure, really," she said. "I started lifting last year, and six practices a week … Maybe it was not having any stress over my college decision. That was over. No stress. I was relaxed the whole year."
In her last high school year, Mavrova’s 50 free time went from 24.1 to 23.1. Her 100 free clocking dropped from 53.1 to 51.9, from March 2013 to one year later.
Was there a point in preseason workouts at Marshall where she felt like she could be competitive in college swimming so quickly?
"It was when we do what you call a 1,000-point set, where you race four events and go all out," the 5-foot-5 Mavrova said. "And I realized my times in practice were pretty good, not that far off."
An economics major, Mavrova said she chose Marshall "because mostly I liked the girls during my trip (official visit). I felt like I really connected with them. And Bill is very enthusiastic."
Mavrova said that when the freshman class reported – 11 of the 27 Herd swimmers and divers – there was some concern about the reception from upperclassmen. But that worry has melted through team bonding, like the pasta dinner the seniors prepared a couple of Friday nights ago before the Herd swam with competitive success against Vanderbilt and Xavier the following day.
"It was a big challenge at first, because (the freshman class) felt like we were too big," Mavrova said. "We were kind of scared how the other girls would react toward us. But now we’ve gotten so used to one another, and it’s so much fun to have the big class.
"I live in a suite of eight girls, all freshmen, with one sophomore. We get pumped up together the night before meets. It’s as good atmosphere.
"The seniors have been leaders for us. They’ve been great, taken us under their wings. They made dinner and it became kind of a team pep rally. The seniors bought everything. They’ve been very welcoming."
While Mavrova came to Marshall with 24 advanced placement credits from high school and said she’s trying to decide whether to go for a minor as well as her econ major work, the 19-year-old has set specific goals in the pool.
"I know for the 50 free my goal is 22.7, and I want to be top three in conference, at least," Mavrova said. "I like the 50 better; I’m a sprinter. The 100 free, I already get tired.
"The 100 fly, we’re working on it right now, and I feel like I’m improving a lot. I’m less than a second off my best time, so early in the season. We’ve improved my fly stroke to try to get faster."
Asked the biggest things she’s learned from Tramel and MU assistant coach Ian Walsh, Mavrova quickly answers, "Working hard.
"College swimming is as hard as I thought it would be," she said. "I was very worried about it, and it is hard. But Bill is about working hard. He pushes you a lot. And Ian works a lot on technique.
"We spent 40 minutes on my starts on Friday morning (Oct. 31), so it’s a lot of detail work, trying to get every single movement perfectly. Bill is a motivator. He’ll yell at you to go faster."
Tramel said that after Mavrova’s rapid improvement last year, her 50 best 50 free time would have already placed fifth in the C-USA Championships.
"The biggest thing here, the reason why she’s excelled to this point – and Gloriya is just getting started -- is her work ethic," Tramel said. "She brings her ‘game’ attitude every day in practice, comes every practice to give 100 percent.
"Everybody is a hard worker on our team, but there’s a very clear consistency to her work ethic, and it doesn’t matter if it’s in the water or in the strength and conditioning room."
Mavrova understands that as she continues to have success, more will be expected.
"I listen to music, get myself pumped up," Mavrova said when asked how she prepares for those short, speedy events. "I’m cheering right before the race. I’m exerting my arms a lot, don’t like to stand still, which for sprinting makes sense – get my heart rate up right before while visualizing the race.
"I do feel pressure right now; very pressured right now, and it really didn’t hit me until this past weekend that I was actually doing really well and kind of ahead of my schedule of times. I’ll loosen up, but it’s getting me a little worried.
"I am just excited about my progress."
She isn’t alone. Just ask Tramel, Walsh and her Herd teammates.
