Adam Small, a 6-foot 3-inch, 187-pound high school senior with a wingspan of 6-foot-6, belies a name that suggests anything but big—especially in the realm of competitive swimming.

Small is a huge success as a swimmer, an achievement that could lead to him becoming Corona del
Sol’s first Olympic swimmer.

Not only has he set numerous meet records, school records, city records, Arizona high school and Central Region records in his 11 years of swimming competitively, Small’s most impressive accomplishment so far was the Arizona State Class 5A-Division I record he set in the 50-yard freestyle once held by Olympian gold medal winner Gary Hall Jr.

Although several swimmers, including Small, had come close, Hall’s 13-year-old Arizona state record of 20.30 seconds, set in 1994, was thought to be insurmountable until Small swam it in 20.22 seconds in the state meet in November.

Small not only won the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle (45.42 seconds) in the state meet, but also broke the Wolves Classic record in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke this past season. He was named Boys Swimmer of the Year by the Arizona Republic.

He is a member of the U.S. junior national team which recently traveled to Australia over the winter break to compete against Australia, Japan, China and New Zealand at the Victoria Swimming State Championships. Small was in a town called Geelong before the five-day meet in Melbourne, where “I did fairly well,” he said.

“Right now is kind of the middle of the season, and I am preparing for the Olympic trials this summer. So for being mid-season, my times were pretty decent.”

Small is also a national qualifier in the 50 freestyle (23.32) and 100 freestyle (51.96).

So what big plans does Adam Small have for his future besides the Olympic trials this summer? He has committed to an athletic scholarship at the University of Arizona after considering several other programs, including the University of Texas at Austin.

“It was a tough choice but in the end I decided that the Arizona swim team was one of the best in the nation and it was a better place for me to go,” Small said.

The upcoming U of A recruiting class, ranked by some as the best in the nation, will include, in addition to Small, Marshall Dilworth, Austin Thompson and Sam Weinstein. Small is expected to contribute right away.

When can Corona expect to see its first Olympic swimmer?

“Making the Olympic team in 2008 would be a really, big, long shot, but I will be at the trials,
 Small said.

Small also isn’t overlooking his chances on the 2012 team, which he feels “May be my best shot after four years of collegiate swimming experience.”