Southern Illinois University Head Coach Rick Walker might be seeing potential he can develop in Payton Parman, of the Oshkosh YMCA Swim Team.
Payton’s best times so far would have already landed her three scoring positions in the Missouri Valley Conference, with an A-final 200 fly, and B-final equivalent 100 fly and 400 IM. She also has a 200 IM and 500 free with the potential to contribute as well, given that the times she is showing now may be just the beginning of a breakthrough.
After starting out the 2014-2015 season with a great showing at the 2014 Oklahoma Pro-Am Classic, recording two finals appearances, she went undiagnosed with Anemia thru the rest of the winter season. Once diagnosed early in June, she came back to final at the YMCA Long Course Summer Nationals in both the 200 Fly & 400 IM. Payton also did not get a chance to show her strength at the high school championships in Wisconsin, as a school transfer forced her to sit out of her junior season, serving to keep her a little below the radar.
OSHY Head Coach Jay Coleman had this to say: “Payton battled anemia all winter, which was not diagnosed until early June. When her iron levels get back to normal I would expect her to keep getting better. Even at 4:35 in the IM she hasn’t put together her best IM yet.”
Payton’s top times (SCY):
200 Free: 1:55.21
500 Free: 5:07.74
100 Fly: 58.50
200 Fly: 205.95
200 IM: 2:12.26
400 IM: 4:35.64