“The minute I watched him swim, I knew he’d be a great catch for Iowa State.”

That’s what men’s swimming coach Trip Hedrick said when he saw Jay Schindler swim as a high schooler.

And he hasn’t changed his mind.

Schindler, a senior, is a three-time All-American as a Cyclone and a two-time conference champion in the 100 breaststroke.

Schindler started swimming at the age of 11 because there was a nice swimming facility in the neighborhood. He said he went to the pool often with his friends and was recognized by a local coach, who asked him to start swimming competitively.

Schindler took up the coach’s offer and has been at it ever since.

Schindler said he enjoyed swimming because it kept him busy and the water didn’t serve as much of a resistant.

“It’s easy to keep at something when you’re good at it,” he said.

As a high school senior in Moorhead, Minn., Schindler was the state champion in the 100 breaststroke, a finalist for Minnesota Swimmer of the Year and a prep All-American.

Schindler was heavily recruited by many Division I programs but decided to take the trip down Interstate 35 to Ames.

“We were just a good personality fit,” Hedrick said of obtaining the prized recruit. “I loved his personality; he’s a free spirit.”

Schindler said Hedrick played a major role in getting him to come to ISU and has been a great asset in his personal development since. Schindler gave credit to his coach for being more than a coach and said he sees Hedrick as part of the team.

“I really like the atmosphere. It [the coaching style] is more individualized,” Schindler said.

Schindler also has enjoyed his teammates over the past four years. “We really push each other. The guys on the team are real close. It’s a good atmosphere to work hard,” he said.

His teammates appreciate him as well.

Schindler was elected co-captain for this year’s squad because his mates perceived him as a team leader and someone who has been where everyone yearns to go — the NCAA meet.

Schindler puts as much stake in the team’s efforts as he does in his own. This is reflected in his favorite swimming memory.

“The best thing that’s happened to me in swimming was winning the Big Eight [team title in 1995],” he said.

Not only is Schindler a role model in the water, but he makes a splash in the classroom as well.

“He’s a great student-athlete,” Hedrick said.

Schindler definitely fits the “athlete” part of the statement. He stands 6’5″, has a 36-inch vertical jump and bench presses 300 pounds.

Hedrick says that Schindler uses every bit of his athletic ability in what he considers Schindler’s most spectacular part of his races — his start.

Hedrick said Schindler uses a “step-up start” which is known to wow the crowds because of his giant dive into the pool.

Schindler said he doesn’t really know much about it because he is never able to see it, but he hears about it all the time.

“I guess it’s kind of neat,” he said.

As for the “student” part, he has twice been named an Academic All-American. To be eligible for the honor, a swimmer must compete in the national tournament and record a 3.5 GPA.

Schindler shook off his dual accomplishments, saying, “I’m really lucky.”

Last year he placed eighth at the NCAA Championship in the 100 breaststroke.

This year, Schindler is looking for even bigger things. He hopes to finish as one of the nation’s top three in the same event.

“His goals are set extremely high,” Hedrick said. “Both of our goals are very high.”

Schindler said right now his main concerns are his times and conditioning for the important meets down the road.

“It’s nice to win [now], but my main focus is the end of the season,” Schindler said.

Right now, Schindler should be on pace for the banner season he is seeking.

“I’m swimming faster than I have in previous years,” he said.

Schindler not only has his sights set on a big collegiate season, but he is also looking ahead toward the Olympic trials in 2000.

He said after his final season here, he will keep practicing with the team and will continue his education in exercise and sport science at ISU.

Schindler said he is excited about his Olympic potential but has no idea how realistic his chances are for making the American team. “I’m just going to try for it. It’s been a goal since I started,” he said. “A lot of coaches are really encouraging me to go for it. I’m really excited to go there now.”

Hedrick sums up watching Schindler’s efforts in three words. “It’s pretty special.”

And if Hedrick is as right about this quote as he was in his uttering four years ago, Cyclone fans may be cheering for Schindler as he swims “down under” in Sydney, in the 2000 Olympics.