Warren Central swimmer Chloe Bernard signs with Millsaps College – Vicksburg Post

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Warren Central swimmer Chloe Bernard has signed to swim at Millsaps College. Bernard qualified for the MHSAA Class II state tournament last season in the girls' 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events. (Ernest Bowker/Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central swimmer Chloe Bernard signed papers Thursday accepting an offer to attend Millsaps College. (Ernest Bowker/Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central swimmer Chloe Bernard sits alongside her family at Thursday's college signing ceremony. She signed with Barnard to swim at Millsaps College. (Ernest Bowker/Vicksburg Post)

When a knee injury kept her out of the pool for a full season early in her high school swimming career, Chloe Bernard didn't give up. She found a way to join her forces and contribute from her deck.

“She writes practices, runs practices, makes calls when needed and cheers people on,” Warren Central swim coach Terry Wong said. “She's a cheerleader to anyone who needs a cheerleader, and a mother to anyone who needs a mother. She has as many hats as anyone else.”

On Thursday, she wore another hat, actually a T-shirt, that marked her college choice. Bernard has signed papers officially accepting an offer to play at Millsaps College next season.

“It feels great. I never thought I'd be here,” Bernard said. “If you had asked me last year or two years ago, I would have said, 'No, I'll never be that fast,' or, 'I'm not going to get there.' So here we are today. It's amazing that I was able to come here.”

As an NCAA Division III member, Millsaps does not offer athletic scholarships. However, Bernard said she is receiving an academic scholarship. She earned her 22 on her ACT and plans to major in fine arts with the goal of becoming a professional photographer or graphic designer.

While Bernard has been successful in the classroom, he has also worked hard to stand out in the pool.

Like all good swimmers, she can compete in any swimming style, but the sprint freestyle event is her strongest suit. She competed in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle at the MHSAA Class II state meet last fall.

Not a bad finish for someone who originally started swimming to learn how not to drown.

“It took me a while to understand,” she said. “Originally I started swimming just to survive in the water and protect myself. Then it evolved into the competitive side and I fell in love with it. Ta.”

Bernard joined the Vicksburg Swimming Association and Warren Central teams in seventh grade. She injured her knee the following year and missed most of her eighth and ninth grade seasons.

Ironically, Wong said getting out of the water allowed Bernard to emerge as a team leader.

“She was out of the pool for a year and a half because of a knee injury, but she still came to practice,” Wong said. “She helped coach people who were struggling with technique. She's been leading the group and giving for the team since she's been in the water. She's given and given to the team. , to keep giving and now to have success at the collegiate level is amazing.”

Once Bernard was able to swim again, he steadily improved. A connection with Millsaps' coach Brian Ware through the club team circuit led to Jackson's college offer, and the rest was history.

Now, Bernard is excited to continue his competitive career at one of the sport's highest levels.

“It's a dream come true,” she said. “She wanted to swim in college, and if she didn't make it, that's cool. She was really blessed with the opportunity to go swimming with Millsaps.”

About Ernest Bowker

Ernest Bowker is the sports editor of the Vicksburg Post. He has been a member of the Vicksburg Post's sports staff since 1998, making him one of the longest-tenured reporters in the paper's 140-year history. The New Jersey native is an LSU graduate. During his career, he received more than 50 awards from the Mississippi Press Association and the Associated Press for his coverage of local sports in Vicksburg.

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