Swimmer Featured in Plain Dealer

Hawken School senior Sarah Dorenkott recently capped her career as one of Ohio`s most accomplished swimmers. Dorenkott won Division II state championships in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races Feb. 24-25 at Canton`s Branin Natatorium, and swam on first-place medley and 200 freestyle relay teams. She led Hawken to its eighth straight team championship. Dorenkott, who will swim for the Naval Academy next season, won five individual titles and swam on seven championship relay teams during her four state meets. Her 12 championships rank second on the state`s all-time list, including girls and boys. Alyssa Kiel, who graduated from Hawken last June, won 14 titles from 2002-05. Swimming the maximum four events at each state meet, Dorenkott finished in the top three in all 16 races. Centerville`s Jenny Forster led the Division I senior girls with 15 top-three finishes. No other senior boy or girl placed in the top three more than seven times within the past four years. The Plain Dealer presents 16 questions with the 16-time medalist. 1. What was the last tune you downloaded on your iPod? A: "About Mr. Brown" by O.A.R. 2. What is your favorite song to listen to before races? A: "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith. 3. Who is your all-time favorite swimmer? A: Michael Phelps, "because I had dinner with him at a buffalo wing competition" in June 2004, while with the Lake Erie Silver Dolphins swim club at the North Baltimore Classic. 4. What is your most memorable championship? A: "In 2004, when I made the National Junior Team cut by winning a 100-meter freestyle at Miami [University] in Oxford." 5. Why did you select the Naval Academy? A: "I`ve always wanted to go there. To serve, I think, is a good thing to do. It`s my way of giving back." 6. What is your favorite oldies song? A: "Back in Black" by AC/DC. 7. What is your favorite group? A: Dave Matthews Band. 8. Name your all-time swimming relay team. A: "That`s tough. Jenny Thompson, Natalie Coughlin, Amy Van Dyken and Dara Torres." 9. What are the best things about Hawken? A: "The swimming program and our coaches, teachers like Mr. Scott and our athletic director, Mr. Long." 10. What is your favorite movie? A: "Anchorman" or "Stripes." 11. Name the song you`d sing, if you had to, in front of a crowd. A: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." 12. What is your favorite natatorium? A: "The IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis. It`s said to be the fastest pool in the world." 13. Who would play you in a movie? A: Angelina Jolie. 14. What era would you have liked to live in? A: "I would want to be born in 1901. I`m really into history. I would have loved to live the whole 20th century." 15. What is your favorite thing about swimming? A: "Winning. It makes you feel fortunate to have the people around you who allow you to be in position to do that." 16. Finally, your least favorite aspect of the sport? A: "Chlorine really bothers me." An answer for every honor Thursday, March 09, 2006 Mike Peticca Plain Dealer Reporter