Augusta Preparatory School senior Amy Riordan already has many accomplishments under her belt, both athletic and academic.
She’s been the Augusta Swim League Swimmer of the Year and Swimming State Champion of the Georgia Independent Schools Association five times. She’s in the National Honor Society and has earned the Renssalaer Medal, an academic award for outstanding performance in math and science that entails a scholarship for up to $120,000.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Riordan has embarked on a course for even more opportunities to achieve. With her father, swim coach and fellow seniors alongside, she signed to commit as a Division I swimmer for the University of South Carolina.
Amid her enthusiasm for her future, Riordan admits that Carolina was not her first choice. A tour of the school ultimately convinced her.
“I thought it was absolutely amazing,” said Riordan. “I love the campus, all the facilities.”
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Riordan also says she was excited by the athletic program.
“We got a new coaching staff from Florida,” she said “They’re trying to get to the top. It’s good to have goals like that.”
Riordan was referring to Jeff Poppell, who was the head swimming coach at the University of Florida and was named head swimming and diving coach at USC in April. Her father, Jim Riordan, notes that Poppell was impressed after observing Amy Riordan at the Augusta Aquatic Center.
“He came down here at one of our local meets,” said Jim Riordan. “She was able to beat some of his girls. So I think that’s what put them on the same wavelength.”
Greg Gillette, Amy Riordan’s swim coach, recalls her potential and focus were noticeable back when he began coaching her during her sophomore year.
“The hard work was there from the get go,” said Gillette. He notes that her growth in the sport came as she learned how to not work hard for its own sake but with the proper aims, and to slow down and think. During the height of the COVID-19 epidemic, Gillette says he worked with Amy Riordan by doing workouts via Zoom to compensate for swimming facilities not being available.
“She just made herself into a better athlete,” said Gillette. “That really helped when she came back into the water.
Jim Riordan believes his daughter’s drive to constantly improve is ultimately what brought her to where she is. He notes that she’s been swimming since the age of five or six, and is competitive with her twin brother, who is also a swimmer.
“It’s been a great ride,” he said. “She’s going to have a lot of fun.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
