It all started with a ribbon.
When Sam McHugh was 7 years old, he had a friend who won a ribbon in swimming. A jealous McHugh decided then and there that he wanted a ribbon of his own.
Now, years later, McHugh is one of the top swimmers on the University of Tennessee men’s swimming team. With McHugh being just a freshman, the sky is the limit for the Chattanooga native.
McHugh came to UT from Baylor High School, a private school on the outskirts of Chattanooga. McHugh said he didn’t have to think too hard about where he wanted to attend college.
“I’ve been a UT fan my whole life,” McHugh said. “My dad went to school here, and my sister goes here now. The coaches are amazing, and I would argue that we have the best pool in the country. It was an easy choice for me.”
Head coach Matt Kredich followed McHugh’s swimming career much through his sophomore and junior year. McHugh was the number one recruit out of Tennessee and the 16th ranked recruit in the nation.
“His coach is a really good friend of mine, and Baylor is a really good program,” Kredich said. “Sam was improving really quickly, and he was really versatile, very competitive and just an all-around great kid.”
McHugh’s hard work and determination has turned many heads in the swimming program. Coaches and seniors alike praise him. Kredich is one of the first to congratulate the freshman on his many accomplishments.
“He’s got great focus on skill and effort,” Kredich said. “He wants to master every aspect of swimming … He can swim anything and everything well. His overall attitude is really what we want from our guys … He’s a great worker and never complains. He brings a really high level of intelligence to this team.”
Senior Tristan Slater also discussed what it’s been like for him practicing alongside McHugh this year.
“Sam’s attitude is pretty incredible,” Slater said. “His hard work pays off on results. He’s been a blessing in disguise for me … I give him a hard time when I beat him, and he gives me a hard time when he beats me. It’s great competition.”
McHugh’s greatest inspiration is Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. McHugh says that Phelps’ never-give-up attitude is simply amazing. McHugh has shown a similar attitude throughout the year, as he has already won several competitive events. He received SEC Freshman of the Week honors on Nov. 4.
Although most freshmen have to prove themselves to the seniors by cleaning swimwear or preforming other simple chores, McHugh says that the seniors refrain from picking on him.
“The seniors know not to mess with me,” McHugh joked as he smiled at senior teammate Slater. “They don’t mess with me too much.”
McHugh’s abilities in the pool have gotten many around the program talking about his future. Some consider McHugh to be the future of the program at Tennessee. Kredich knows that McHugh can do just about anything that he wants in the swimming world.
“He’s exactly the kinda guy we wanna have at the center of our program to recruit guys just like him,” Kredich said. “He views himself the way great leaders view themselves: ready to do whatever it takes to help the program. That is pretty extraordinary for a freshman.”
And, to think, McHugh’s swimming career all started with a little jealousy over a ribbon.
