University of Georgia Athletics
Lone Texan Bulldog Not Fazed By Meet With Longhorns
January 08, 2015 | Swimming & Diving
By Luke Dixon
Senior Maddie Locus is the lone Texan on the Georgia women's swimming and diving team, so when the Texas Longhorns visit Athens on Saturday at 11 a.m., she knows she will have friends and former age-group teammates competing in rival colors.
A native of Sugar Land - approximately two and a half hours from Austin - Locus actually grew up in a Texas Christian University household as both of her parents are alums. She has faced Texas several times in duals and championships during her collegiate career, so Saturday's meet won't faze her - even though several of her First Colony teammates now swim for the Longhorns.
"I don't think it will be awkward," Locus said. "I love racing them. I grew up racing them at all of our meets in Texas. I think that'll be the coolest part, seeing how we responded to the Christmas training that we did at home in Texas, and now we're coming and having a meet against each other. I think it's more 'I'm happy to see how well they're going to do' and 'I want to do my best,' but it will be cool to see everyone together."
When Locus was being recruited at the end of her high school career, she said Texas really wasn't on her radar. Georgia, however, had just what she was looking for.
"I pretty much had an idea of the places I wanted to look, and Texas just was not one of them," Locus said. "They're a great team and I know a lot of the people there, but it just wasn't one of my top four. … When I was looking around at swim programs, I was generally looking for good sprinters, and Georgia had them. I saw their times and I thought, 'I need to look there.' As soon as I arrived in Athens for my recruiting trip, I knew I wanted to go to UGA. The campus is beautiful, the coaches expect a lot but are respectful and understanding of the swimmers, and the swimmers themselves are happy, friendly and fun to be around. I loved Georgia then, and I've loved every minute since."
Locus has been a star for Georgia both in and out of the water.
She holds the third-fastest time in the 50 freestyle, the seventh-fastest time in the 100 freestyle and the eighth-fastest time in the 100 butterfly in school history, plus she led off the 200 freestyle relay that set the Georgia record. During Locus' career, Georgia has won two national and three SEC titles - with designs on more in February and March.
Locus earned the 2013-14 Joel Eaves Award Scholar-Athlete Award as the senior student-athlete with the highest grade point average based on academic hours rather than athletic eligibility. She is active in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has earned academic honors from the College Swim Coaches Association of America and the SEC.
"Maddie is just one of those kids who gets it," Georgia coach Jack Bauerle said. "She is a talented kid who gives you everything she has at practice and in competitions. There are no surprises with Maddie. She is the same way with the other aspects of her life. She sees the big picture and she goes after it and gets things done. Maddie is a winner in everything she does."
"I've always said that swimming isn't who I am, it's just something I do," Locus said. "But it's affected who I am in so many ways. I've learned how to handle adversity, how to work toward a goal, how to set priorities and work efficiently, how to be a good teammate, and how to dream big and achieve bigger."
On Saturday, at 11 a.m., Georgia will host Texas in its highest-ranked dual meet this season. The Lady Bulldogs are ranked No. 2 in the most recent College Swimming Coaches Association of America poll, while the Texas women are ranked No. 6. The Lady Bulldogs also will be putting their 92-meet win streak at Gabrielsen Natatorium on the line. The men's meet promises to be intriguing, as well, as the Longhorns are ranked No. 1 and the Bulldogs are No. 3.
Luke Dixon is a senior from Grayson, Ga., who is double-majoring in journalism and political science and also pursuing a sport media certificate from UGA's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. He is in his second year as a student assistant with the UGA Sports Communications office.
"Coming attractions" is a weekly feature published on georgiadogs.com spotlighting a UGA student-athlete who will be competing in a key home event during the upcoming weekend. Previous stories include:
"Coming Attractions" is a weekly feature published on georgiadogs.com spotlighting a UGA student-athlete who will be competing in a key home event during the upcoming weekend. Previous stories include:
August 28 - David Andrews (football vs. Clemson)
September 4 - Carly Hamilton (cross country in Bulldog Invitational)
September 11 - Tirah Leau (volleyball in Benson Hospitality Invitational)
September 18 - Mariel Gutierrez (soccer vs. Vanderbilt)
September 25 - Toby Johnson (football vs. Tennessee)
October 2 - Emma Sonnett (soccer vs. Tennessee)
October 9 - Jared Markham (swimming & diving vs. Alabama)
October 16 - Gaby Smiley (volleyball vs. Kentucky and Tennessee)
October 23 - Bella Hartley (soccer vs. Kentucky)
October 30 - Olivia Ball & Ian Forlini (swimming & diving vs. Florida)
November 6 - Megan Spencer (volleyball vs. Arkansas)
November 13 - Kolton Houston (football vs. Auburn)
November 20 - Yante Maten (men's basketball vs. Troy & FAU)
November 27 - Damian Swann (football vs. Georgia Tech)
December 4 - Marjorie Butler (women's basketball vs. Michigan State)
December 18 - Tiaria Griffin (women's basketball vs. Furman)
December 25 - International Bulldogs (men's basketball vs. Mercer)