STRAIGHT-A TEAM: John Eick
6/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
June 19, 2008
This is the 11th in a series of 16 features about Miami University's brightest student-athletes. Their exceptional academic performance during the recently completed spring semester earned them a spot on the roster of the RedHawks' exclusive Straight A Team. In addition to their rigorous schedules on the athletic fields, each of these individuals earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average this past semester. Overall, during the 2007-08 academic year, Miami's 500-plus student-athletes earned an impressive cumulative 3.0 GPA in the classroom.
 John Eick at Notre Dame Cathedral  | |
It might be hard to believe that Miami University men's swimmer John Eick had any sort of difficulty transitioning from high school to college, especially considering he posted 4.0 grade-point averages in both the fall AND spring semesters during his first year at Miami. However, the rising sophomore freestyle specialist says that time management was a critical lesson for him in the fall.
"I think that the biggest transition (between high school and college) for me was time management," said Eick. "I had a really hard time getting everything done before it was due my first semester, but I adjusted my priorities second semester and actually began to work ahead in a lot of my classes."
Eick, who is one of Miami University's prestigious Harrison Scholars, has a double major in zoology and French. He explains his interesting combination of majors.
"Right now the plan is to go to medical school, which accounts for the zoology major," said Eick. "I decided to major in French as well because it is something I really enjoy, and hopefully I'll find a way to make it useful down the road. I'm really not sure what I want to do when I graduate. Right now I'm kind of just letting things play out as they go."
During the spring semester, Eick's course load included honors chemistry 142, honors chemistry lab 145, second semester BMZ, an art history class and a French literature class.
"Somehow the most challenging classes turned out to be the most enjoyable," remarked Eick. "Both chem lecture and French were difficult, but I really liked both of my professors so I didn't feel overwhelmed, and I felt like I learned a lot in both classes."
Already this summer he has put his French major to use. Right after the end of the spring term, Eick and his mother spent time in London and Paris.
"This was my first time in London and Paris," said Eick. "I had been to Ireland before but never mainland Europe. My mom actually had work in London for a few days so she flew me out to join her, and we went to Paris from there since it really is so close. I spent about four days in London and six in Paris."
"I really didn't get a chance to speak a whole lot of French, since as soon as everyone detected my American accent they would switch to English," added Eick. "I did find myself beginning to think in French, trying to formulate sentences in case I did have to say something. I recognized many lesser-known landmarks that I had learned about in my high school French classes, and the culture was pretty much what I expected, but it was still great to experience it first-hand."
"I did a lot of touring," continued Eick. "I saw just about everything the typical tourist would see, my favorites being the Tower of London and the Eiffel Tower. I actually climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower, which was really neat but exhausting at the same time. We also had a chance to attend mass at Notre Dame which was a great experience. Another really cool place was the catacombs below Paris, where the paths were just lined for miles with bones stacked as high as the ceiling."
Eick attributes his decision to attend Miami to a weekend he spent on the campus during his senior year in high school.
"When I came for the scholar's weekend my senior year in high school, I fell in love with the campus and all the opportunities that Miami offers," said Eick. "I also felt that the men's swimming team was a really good fit for me, and that it would be a neat experience to leave the south."
"John has been exposed to the best in collegiate swimming, coming from Auburn, Alabama," said Miami University head men's swimming coach Pete Lindsay. "He is analytical about technique and training, and diligent in application of what he learns."
And who has been the biggest influence on him at Miami during his first year here?
"I'd say that my coach, Pete Lindsay, has had the greatest influence on me," replies Eick. "He seems to know everything about everything and never hesitates to lend a helping hand. You can always find swimmers in his office asking for advice, discussing politics, or just hanging out. He has definitely been a positive influence on my Miami experience."
And Coach Lindsay believes Eick has been an equally positive influence on the RedHawk men's swimming and diving program.
"It's been a lot of fun having John on the team," said Lindsay. "He is a Harrison Scholar with a very level-headed demeanor. He is active with his church, sings in a choir, and is part of the glue that held the rookie class together."
"We most appreciate his very dry sense of humor and the critical mass he has given to our southern contingent of swimmers from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina," Lindsay added. "He is driven to perform well, particularly in the sprint events, but his gentlemanly manner disguises an intensely competitive nature. It has been a pleasure to see him grow this year."
Players Mentioned
