When Grace Timmons came to Seymour High School her junior year, she wanted to become involved in athletics.
Timmons immediately made the most of the opportunities presented to her, becoming a three-sport athlete for the Owls.
“I definitely like to compete, and I like to be active, and I wanted to kind of branch out a little bit and do more things in school, like being more involved,” Timmons said. “I like to be busy (after school). I don’t like to do nothing. I purposely like to do a sport each season so I can stay in shape. It’s easy to get out of shape.”
Timmons was in track and field, cross-country and basketball her junior year and this school year switched to swimming and will be in track again this spring.
She said she didn’t do preseason conditioning in swimming last fall.
“I actually came in a little bit later,” Timmons said. “People were there for preseason, and I joined last minute. I’m so used to running that in swimming, I was really nervous. I was kind of bad at first, and then I worked my butt off and I got a lot better, and I actually made it to sectional my first year. I got to swim at conference.
“I started out swimming backstroke and breaststroke, but then I got better at free. I switched over to free, and free was my main events. I like the 50 better (than the 100 free). I’m more of a sprinter in swim, but I’m a good distance in running.”
Timmons said her best time in the 50 freestyle came in the sectional trials at 30.01. She said she worked hard preparing for the meets.
“I definitely had to work on my flip turns,” Timmons said. “I just learned how to do them right (before sectional) because when I first started out, I wasn’t too good. So definitely, my flip turns and my dives, my starts. I worked on streamlining better. Streamlining, obviously, helps make you faster.
“It takes a lot of dedication. That’s what I was very nervous about because of the morning practices and the afternoon practices. I definitely had to manage my time right to get all my homework done. It was worth it, for sure.”
Timmons quickly fit in with the swimmers at Seymour.
“The big thing for me is the swim team is definitely like a family,” Timmons said. “When I get in a sport, that is what I like the most, the family feel of it. We did so many things. That is something I know I won’t forget.”
Timmons mainly ran the 1,600 and 3,200 in track last spring, and she is looking forward to those same events this spring, although she said she might give hurdles a try.
The senior is looking forward to the home meets.
“Our track is the best,” Timmons said.
She has taken both dual credit and Advanced Placement courses at Seymour High School and said she looks forward to graduation.
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Name: Grace Timmons
School: Seymour High School
Parents: Roger Timmons, Karen Timmons, Cynthia Ryan
Siblings: Amber, Paige, Roger, Braxton, Hope, Autumn and Starr
Sports: Track and field, two years; swimming, one year; basketball, one year; cross-country, one year
Athletics highlight: Cross-country most improved award
Organization: Church youth group
Plans after high school: Attend college for nursing or something in the medical field
Favorite foods: Hamburger, fries, salads
Favorite TV show: “The Good Doctor”
Favorite singer: Elvis Presley
Favorite team, athlete: Los Angeles Dodgers, Corey Seager
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