MONROE - About 35 Monroe High School swimmers and residents turned out at Recreation Park Saturday to welcome home Jess Weeden, who won two bronze medals and set six U.S. records at the Deaflympics.
Weeden, a senior at Monroe High School, took bronze medals in the 50-meter breaststroke and 800-meter freestyle relay with times of 35.79 seconds and 9:00.45, respectively, setting records for both events at the Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan.
She finished sixth in the 200 breaststroke (2:52.61) and fifth in the 400 medley relay (4:43.30), which also set new U.S. records in both events.
"I didn't know I had broken them," Weeden said of the six records. "I was just thankful. I have kind of been in a three year slump. I was just praying I would finish O.K. I got more than I asked for."
Weeden, as part of the 400 freestyle relay, just missed a medal and finished fourth (4:09.66), but in record breaking time. She added a fifth place finish in the 400 individual medley (5.:22.16) and sixth in both the 200 butterfly (2:31.10) and 100 breaststroke (1:20.81), which was her sixth record.
In the summer of 2008, she competed for a spot on the U.S. team at tryouts in Chicago and her times earned her a trip to Taipei, Taiwan.
Weeden spent a week in Los Angeles practicing with teammates, and touring the University of Southern California.
"It was a great opportunity," Weeden said. "I don't regret it."
Weeden swam on the Monroe girls swimming team as a freshman before opting to swim only for the Verona Aquatic Club, which she has been a part of for five years.
"It was really hard," Weeden said of her decision to just swim on the club team. "I missed out on a lot of football games. It was worth it."
She considered applying to USC, but after visiting she had a change of heart and decided not to complete her application.
"It (USC) was not what I thought it would be," Weeden said.
She has been accepted to Abilene Christian University and is finishing the application process for Rice and Texas A&M. Weeden said Tennessee also is an option.
She will now join the Monroe girls swimming team.
"I'm looking forward to it," she said as she will join her sophomore sister Cat on the swim team.
Even though Weeden was swimming in Taiwain, Monroe girls swimming coach Linda Moser enjoyed the e-mail updates.
"It was really exciting," Moser said. "It was fun to see how much she improved. I'm so excited she's back. The girls missed her as a person. I think the knowledge she gained from the coaches at that level will only help."
Weeden, a senior at Monroe High School, took bronze medals in the 50-meter breaststroke and 800-meter freestyle relay with times of 35.79 seconds and 9:00.45, respectively, setting records for both events at the Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan.
She finished sixth in the 200 breaststroke (2:52.61) and fifth in the 400 medley relay (4:43.30), which also set new U.S. records in both events.
"I didn't know I had broken them," Weeden said of the six records. "I was just thankful. I have kind of been in a three year slump. I was just praying I would finish O.K. I got more than I asked for."
Weeden, as part of the 400 freestyle relay, just missed a medal and finished fourth (4:09.66), but in record breaking time. She added a fifth place finish in the 400 individual medley (5.:22.16) and sixth in both the 200 butterfly (2:31.10) and 100 breaststroke (1:20.81), which was her sixth record.
In the summer of 2008, she competed for a spot on the U.S. team at tryouts in Chicago and her times earned her a trip to Taipei, Taiwan.
Weeden spent a week in Los Angeles practicing with teammates, and touring the University of Southern California.
"It was a great opportunity," Weeden said. "I don't regret it."
Weeden swam on the Monroe girls swimming team as a freshman before opting to swim only for the Verona Aquatic Club, which she has been a part of for five years.
"It was really hard," Weeden said of her decision to just swim on the club team. "I missed out on a lot of football games. It was worth it."
She considered applying to USC, but after visiting she had a change of heart and decided not to complete her application.
"It (USC) was not what I thought it would be," Weeden said.
She has been accepted to Abilene Christian University and is finishing the application process for Rice and Texas A&M. Weeden said Tennessee also is an option.
She will now join the Monroe girls swimming team.
"I'm looking forward to it," she said as she will join her sophomore sister Cat on the swim team.
Even though Weeden was swimming in Taiwain, Monroe girls swimming coach Linda Moser enjoyed the e-mail updates.
"It was really exciting," Moser said. "It was fun to see how much she improved. I'm so excited she's back. The girls missed her as a person. I think the knowledge she gained from the coaches at that level will only help."
