Photo courtesy of Texas A&M University Athletics
Lisa Bratton, a junior in the Department of Ocean Engineering at Texas A&M University, will be among 1,700 swimmers competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Swim Team during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Participants will be trying to earn spot on the team for the 2016 Summer Games, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro.
Bratton, a backstroke specialist, is a member of USA Swimming National Team. At age 16, she made it to semifinals of the 200-meter backstroke at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, with a time of 2 minutes, 16.53 seconds.
From her backyard pool to the Olympic trials, Bratton has come a long way. She began her competitive swimming career when she was only 8 years old.
“I was a hyperactive kid,” said Bratton. “I had to do everything to keep myself busy. I picked swimming and decided that this is a sport I want to pursue. That is when I took off; making new meets and went to Olympic trials. That was my high.”
She graduated from Delta High School in Richland, Washington, as salutatorian and made the decision to come to Texas A&M.
“I came all the way down here for swimming and engineering, because Texas A&M is a great school for both,” said Bratton. “I have been practicing with the Texas A&M swim team. After last summer, I was ranked third in the nation. We have a little bit of a shot at the nationals.”
While swimming was a priority for Bratton, being in a strong academic environment was next on her list.
Growing up she knew she wanted to pursue engineering. Her father and both grandfathers are civil engineers. In fact, one of her grandfathers, Jimmy Bratton, is an Aggie who got his master’s degree in civil engineering from Zachry Department of Civil Engineering in 1963.
“My grandpa still lives in Brady, Texas,” she said. “This helped me make the big move from Washington. I have family four hours away.”
Bratton said she is still figuring out college. She believes freshman year in engineering is the most challenging. She relies on tried and tested principles of time management and setting priorities. She attributes her success in math and hard science courses to the tutors at Texas A&M’s Nye Academic Center who help student athletes excel in classwork as they work toward their athletic goals.
“I do all my work and spend an hour with the tutors figuring out what I don’t know,” she said. “That helps.”
Besides the Olympic trials, Bratton has big plans for the summer.
“I plan to go to Germany with my grandpa who speaks German fluently. He will be my very own tour guide,” she said. “This is the only summer I can do that. Come next summer, I will have more international meets.”
Bratton also plans to try to qualify for the 2020 Olympics, which is when she plans to stop swimming competitively and pursue her goal of being an engineer.
“I will be done with my swimming career after 2020,” she said. “I want to get my master’s degree or start working. I’m open to an overseas opportunity related to ocean engineering.”
Bratton describes her experience in taking an Ocean 201 class, which is taught by Dr. John Niedzwecki. The class was scheduled during her swimming practice two days a week.
“Monday is the hardest day of the week,” she said. “Dr. Niedzwecki worked with me during his office hours and made sure I was caught up on notes. I’ve had no conflicts so far and that means a lot to me.”
Bratton attributes her athletic success to her coaches, fellow athletes and most importantly her parents’ never-ending support. They recognized her talent at a young age and encouraged her at every step.
“The amount of energy I have after a workout amazes me,” she said. “Growing up, my mom asked me, ‘Do you still love swimming?’ I replied, mom, can you image how it would be if I wasn’t swimming right now? I would be bouncing off the walls!”