Fresh Faces: Ashton Ehrecke

Having been a swimmer for two-thirds of her life, Ashton Ehrecke has spent over a decade developing a technique that works best for her. The proof is on her résumé.

The Bettendorf, Iowa, native earned All-State recognition in every year of high school and garnered All-America honors twice. Ehrecke broke four school records at Pleasant Valley High School en route to earning the 2014 state title in the 200 free relay and making the greatest swimming memory she has.

“My favorite memory was winning that state championship in high school my senior year,” Ehrecke said. “It was kind of a buildup of three years of working hard and being really close and the fourth year finally getting it.”

The success she created culminated in a commitment to school that, although a few hours from home, felt entirely familiar.

“Both of my parents attended Iowa State and I've had a lot of aunts and uncles and friends that have gone here. It's a very comfortable environment for me,” Ehrecke said. “The team is really close to and similar to how my team was in high school. It's like a community that lets each other have space, but when they need help or see that a teammate needs help, they go in and help.”

Though the very techniques that led her to excellence in high school and landed her a spot on the Cyclones' roster had gotten her this far, Ehrecke was asked to rework them to some degree this season.

The change may have seemed unnecessary, given the results she had prior to arriving in Ames. Ehrecke took the suggestions in stride, however, and head coach Duane Sorenson has seen them pay dividends.

“Ashton has really worked hard to improve her technique,” Sorenson said. “She's always been a very talented young lady, but we've been able to really rebuild her strokes and using her competitive nature and her natural strength, she's really taken a big step forward.”

Sorenson said the process can be difficult for every swimmer, no matter their level of experience. Even the most talented of athletes can lose some focus when fatigue sets in, but the task of tweaking years-old habits requires weeks of constant concentration to make the changes become automatic.

The requisite focus has been obvious thus far, as Ehrecke has eagerly taken the advice of those around her.

“We're teaching her a different way to think about how to swim, using her entire body rather than just trying to muscle her way through it,” Sorenson said. “She's very much like a sponge with how she's absorbing it all.”

Along with the challenge of approaching swimming in a slightly new manner, Ehrecke also sees the obstacle a year-round swimming schedule could present. Like re-learning those old habits, she's using it as a chance to make a positive change in her career.

“I'm excited to see how fast I can go. It's twice as long as the high school season for me so seeing how a longer season can help me improve will be fun,” Ehrecke said. “I'd like to be able to swim at Big 12s and I'd like to be a part of the scoring relays by the end of the year.”

With the help of her open-minded approach to what's already being asked of her in just her freshman campaign, Ehrecke's goals look more and more within reach as each day passes. Sorenson sees her objectives and so much more coming her way as her young college career continues to unfold.

“She's a quick learner and really wants to work on improving every day,” Sorenson said. “We think she's just going to be a phenomenal swimmer when it's all said and done.”

Players Mentioned

Ashton Ehrecke

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Iowa State University Athletics