Familiarity resonates with swimmer Kyleigh Commito.
That's why it was so easy for her to commit to Laurentian University next year and compete for the Lady Aqua Vees swim squad.
Commito knows Laurentian and the historic school knows her. In fact, the school is in her blood.
Commito's father (Tony), mother (Patti) are graduates and her brother (Michael) is currently in his third year.
Commito herself has already been going to Laurentian now for a long time as she's a member of the Sudbury Laurentian Swim Club, training hour after hour in the same pool two-time Olympic gold medalist Alex Baumann once did.
"I chose Laurentian mainly because of the swim team...I already train with them and know them," said Commito. "It's a nice school. It's also a family thing...And I feel no pressure following in their footsteps. I feel ready and well prepared. My teachers at Lockerby have me ready academically as well."
Since she's been swimming with the Laurentian team, Commito will find an easy transition from the high school ranks to the ultra competitive university level.
Commito is looking forward to pitting her best against the best.
"It will be a challenge," said the 17 year old. "It's always good to have higher competition to race against. I thrive on challenging myself. I always want to do better than my last time. It's about trying to out do yourself each time. You always have to try harder."
Commito will literally dive right in with the team next season.
"Kyleigh will have an instant impact on the team for next year," said head coach Phil Parker. "She's training hard right now for club nationals and will be ready to hit the ground running once varsity season starts. We're losing a great distance swimmer this year (Alicia Kaye) due to graduation. And Kyleigh will replace her nicely."
Commito will need very little in the ways of honing her game.
"Kyleigh is a fast learner," said Parker. "She has a great training base from her club swimming and only needs a few technical changes to her strokes. She adapts to any training situation and will excel at this level."
Commito lives swimming.
Her typical day would make any workhorse breakdown. She's up at 5:30 am for a quick breakfast. She then goes to a morning practice, followed by a day at school studying. After school, she hits the weight room and then it's back in the pool.
When she finally gets back home, Commito then dives into her school work. Finally, she ends her day by going to bed and enjoying her dreams.
Commito does this every day of the week.
"Yes it's worth it," said an emphatic Commito. "Everyone wants something to be proud of and swimming is what I am proud of most...So I am going to work at it all the time."
Commito's best events are the 200-metre freestyle, 400-m freestyle and the 800-m freestyle. She's setting modest goals for 2006-07.
"I want to qualify for the Canadian interuniversity Sport (CIS) championships," said the Grade 12 Lockerby student. "I've already met the standards for each race."
Commito has a bright future.
"Kyleigh is definitely a potential CIS national qualifier," said Parker. "She's great with time management. She knows when to buckle down academically and she knows when she can have fun. She always has a smile on her face and fits in well with the other Lady Vees."
For now, Commito will concentrate on finishing her club season, which will culminate with the Club National Championships in Calgary in July.
"It's been a good season so far," said the honour roll student. "I matched my best times from last year back in December 2005, which is good because it was so early. I just have to keep it up now. I have bad nerves when I compete at provincial and national events. I haven't overcome it yet. Hopefully, I can fix it and swim fast when I have to."
Commito will compete in the Ontario Division II Team Championships this weekend at the Laurentian Pool.
There will also be many other local talent competing at the meet.
