NEW PALESTINE — Courtnee Coffman already has chapters in multiple record books, but her story is far from over.
The Franklin College swimmer, who prepped at New Palestine High School, is coming off a remarkable sophomore season. With two collegiate seasons to come, her best swimming may still be in her future.
“She’s got room to grow,” Franklin coach Andy Hendricks said.
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As a sophomore, Coffman made Grizzlies history. As part of the 200 medley relay team, she earned honorable mention All-America status by placing 16th at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in Greensboro, N.C.
It was the first time in the 10-year program history that Franklin swimmers had earned All-America honors.
At the NCAA Championships, Coffman qualified and competed in six events, four relays and, individually, in the 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle competitions. All of Franklin’s national qualifiers will be returning for the 2019-20 season.
“We wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what we did this year without her,” Hendricks added. “But, we have unfinished business.”
It is to no surprise to Hendricks or Coffman’s high school coach, Steve Maxwell, that Coffman is doing well, especially when it comes to competing in the national finals.
At New Palestine, Coffman qualified for the state finals as both a junior and senior. She is as decorated as any swimmer in program history.
At Franklin, in only two years, she has earned multiple first-team All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference honors and was twice named HCAC Swimmer of the Week. She is the HCAC champion in both the 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle. She owns conference records, school records, meet records and pool records in multiple events.
“She’s a big-meet swimmer,” Maxwell said. “In a dual, she’ll do enough to win, but you put her in the sectional, she’s going to go to state. No one is going to get in her way. You can bet the house on that.”
She’s a competitor and loves to win.
Coffman said it all started around the time she was 6 or 7 years old. It is why she took up swimming.
“My (older) sister (Whitney) was swimming and I wanted to swim so I could beat her,” Coffman said. “I was the younger sister and whatever (the older sister) is going to do, I’m going to be better.”
She has that competitive edge. It has stayed with her at Franklin College.
“Some swimmers race for time and some swimmers race to race. She races to race,” Hendricks said. “She likes the big meets and the big moments.
“She brings her ‘A’ game when it’s time to bring her ‘A’ game.”
With the racer mentality has come some great times. She is the first female in Franklin College history to go under 23 seconds as the anchor of the 200 medley relay (22.97 seconds).
In the 400 Freestyle Relay at the NCAA Championships, she was part of a school record time of 3:30.61 to place 22nd. The 400 Medley Relay finished 19th with a Franklin record time of 3:51.65.
She was part of five record relay swims this past season, including the 200 Freestyle Relay (1:35.13), 800 Freestyle Relay (7:43.11) and 200 Medley Relay (1:43.97).
She is the individual record-holder in the 100 Freestyle (51.6 seconds).
Her 172.5 points scored in relays this season is the most of any Franklin swimmer and the 630 points scored, individually, in two seasons is already No. 14 on the program’s all-time list.
With the wins, records and honors, it would appear the transition from high school standout to college standout has been an easy one.
That’s not true, Coffman said.
“I didn’t think I’d have to be as disciplined (in college), but I have had to discipline myself more to get to the places I want to go,” she said. “You have to discipline yourself and hold yourself accountable.”
So, it has taken a little more than just getting up for the big meets.
“She has come a long way in a short amount of time,” Hendricks said. “She has matured, mentally, and that has made all the difference.”
She has always had the skill set and will to win. Now, she has the discipline to go with it. It is why coaches believe her best lies ahead.
“I would say Courtnee’s best years are ahead of her,” Maxwell said.
“We look for good swimmers and we try to make them great,” Hendricks said of his recruitment of Coffman to the FC program. “We expect good things (from Courtnee and the other national qualifiers). They have some unfinished business.”
