Mark Weber makes national splash in four years with FSU

Mark Weber’s swimming career at Florida State University had its excitements and its disappointments. Perhaps the most disappointing of all is the fact that it’s over after four seemingly quick years.

“It definitely flew by,” said Weber, a Houston County High graduate in a telephone interview last week with the Houston Home Journal from the FSU campus in Tallahassee. “I’m shocked that I’m done.”

But what was exciting for Weber was the chance to swim in his last possible college meet, the NCAA men’s championships in Indianapolis March 28-30. He is a 2013 Atlantic Coast Conference champion and All-American for the second year in a row.

It’s no surprise that Weber tagged as his favorite collegiate moment his winning swim in the 50 freestyle at the ACC meet in Greensboro, N.C. He timed 19.42 seconds in the preliminaries and 19.44 in the finals to earn the No. 9 seed in the event for the entire nation.

“I thought I would win it last year,” said Weber. “But it finally happened. It was a lot of fun.”

Weber finished fourth in this event in 2012 at 19.8. During his sophomore season, he registered a qualifying time for the 2012 Olympic Trials and placed eighth in the ACC.

It was in relays as a junior that Weber snagged his first All-American honors and invitation to the NCAAs. His 400 free relay team placed seventh in the nation in 2012. In the 200 medley relay, his 50 free split (18.83) was the fastest of anyone in the pool though the team as a whole placed ninth.

To win the 2013 50 free in conference, Weber said it didn’t take a whole lot of adjustments because he was personally satisfied with how he swam the year before. He said it was just a matter of there being others in the race who were faster on that day. It did give him the motivation to keep working to improve his own performance.

Also at the ACC championships this year, Weber’s 200 medley and free relay teams took first place. He was the flyer in the medley, swimming the third leg, and he anchored (fourth leg) the free. His 400 free relay team placed second and 400 medley was third.

At nationals, Weber swam 19.73 in the 50 free, 44.43 in the 100 free (he was ninth in the ACC) and 48.46 in the 100 butterfly. The FSU 200 medley relay placed 10th overall at 1:25.8.

The disappointment in Indiana came in the free relay when the team was disqualified for a false start. He said he had real high hopes for that event, but it was still a good group to work with for two years and they had a lot of fun.

As for swimming atmosphere, Weber said the ACC championships were a bigger deal than the NCAAs. He said in conference they are facing all of their major rivals, and with Greensboro being close to several of the schools the fan base can travel there easier, which makes for a very loud facility.

“At the NCAA, it’s much more elite,” said Weber. “But there aren’t that many rivalries. And not all of the fans can make it.”

Still, the NCAA experience put Weber among the best in his sport. He has taken part in national meets at the club level, and was the GHSA state champion in the 50 free as a Houston County High senior. He said the NCAAs is the fastest short-course swim meet in the world, and the times you see posted there are “shocking.”

“It was overwhelming,” said Weber about arriving to Florida State as a freshman. “The training was something I had never experienced. For the first few weeks, I didn’t think I would make it. It was hard to keep up in warm ups.”

But the biggest lesson Weber learned in swimming is perseverance, and that coupled with support from his teammates got him through the rough early stages.

And it’s not that he wasn’t used to a rigorous practice schedule, one he knew he would need to get to the level of a Division I swimmer. His father, Mark Weber, swam for Clemson University in the 1908s, and the son would join his father and another coach for 5 a.m. sessions before school. The school team practices would then follow in the evenings.

His college coaches, Weber said, were at a completely different level as the FSU program produced 89 conference champions and 61 All-Americans in the previous 14 years under Neil Harper.

“Their knowledge of the sport is just incredible,” said Weber. “Every day we learn a new technique to swim better. I tried to soak up everything.”

And Weber went to each practice knowing it would be the most difficult of his life. He said it is mentally and physically draining, but it pays off.

Weber is slated to graduate on May 4. He already has a job in Lakeland, Fla., with a wholesale distribution company. As of now, he has no plans to competitively swim again, but he knows he can still improve.

“That’s what will drive me to get back in the pool,” said Weber. “We’ll just see what happens.”

Also, Weber is excited to see what will happen with his brother, Andrew, who signed a college scholarship to play soccer at Georgia State University.

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