The most decorated swimmer in Gilmer High School history is set to continue her career in the collegiate ranks.
Payton Woodring is a 2022 GHS honor graduate, and her epic swimming journey has led to the University of Cincinnati. Woodring excelled on the high school scene and also with her club team where she racked up accolades for a decade.
Woodring recently shared what appeals to her about Cincinnati, noting, “I really like the coaching staff there. They have a female head coach (Mandy Commons-DiSalle), and I think I really want to go into recruiting or coaching one day. When I went up there, I really liked the assistant coaches, but ultimately fell in love with my head coach. I think I can mentor under her if that’s the path I do end up taking. Ultimately, it felt right. It’s not too far away from home, and it’s not too close.”
Woodring, who was Georgia’s No. 19 ranked female swimmer in the class of 2022, did her due diligence when it came to recruiting. She started with a list of 50 schools that she whittled down to 20, 10 and eventually five. She verbally committed to Louisiana State University during her junior year at GHS, and she also considered Georgia Tech and the University of South Carolina.
However, a coaching change at LSU altered Woodring’s plans, and she reopened her recruitment during her senior season.
“I kind of had to go through recruiting twice because I ended up decommiting and looking at other places,” Woodring explained. “The second time around when I found Cincinnati, it was one of the first schools that contacted me. It just felt right, and they were always at the top of the list.”
Woodring described recruiting as “stressful” and she used to go to the GHS library or to her car to take recruiting calls back in 2020.
“Junior year is a stressful year in general on top of it being COVID year for us,” she said. “It was a very stressful time for any of us recruiting-wise. I would have to go sit in my car and eat lunch and talk to college coaches just to try to fit in those calls. It was definitely stressful and a high-pressure year for all of us, but it was all worth it in the end.”
Because of her tumultuous recruiting situation, Woodring is exploring the idea of going into coaching and recruiting as a profession. She plans to study sports administration with a minor in sports management.
“That’s what I’m leaning toward, but I’m not 100 percent,” she said. “The recruiting process with LSU was an unfortunate situation, but everything happens for a reason. Going through the recruiting process twice, I’ve seen a lot of different coaches go about it the wrong way. I want to be the coach who does it the right way for a kid.”
Year-round swimming starts early
Woodring drew inspiration to start swimming from older sister Kaylin. By the time Woodring was 7, she started swimming with the Carpet Capital Aquatics Club in Dalton. Over the next 10 years, she wore out the route between Ellijay and Dalton.
Aside from the week ahead of the start of school, Woodring maintained a year-round schedule attending practices and meets. Once she was able to drive, Woodring doubled up her pool time. She woke up at 3:45 a.m. three days per week to make the 50-minute trip to Dalton for a morning swimming session. She returned to Ellijay in time for a full day of school before heading back to Dalton to practice in the evening.
“It’s taught me a lot, and I definitely have learned time management through everything and different ways to study,” she said. “I’ve had really good friends call me and help me study on my drive over. It was all worth it. I love my club coach (Jason Meszaros), and my club teammates mean the world to me. They helped me get to where I am today, so I’m very thankful for that.”
During her time with CCAC, Woodring won six state championships and set numerous club records. From 2016 to 2022, she racked up 40 top-10 placements during the short course and long course seasons.
At the Southern Zone Team Championships in 2016, Woodring was part of the quartet on Team Georgia who won the 400 freestyle relay competing against teams from 11 states. In 2018, she was named to the Georgia Select Camp Team and was a USA Futures Championship qualifier.
Woodring was a member of the National Club Swimming Association’s Spring Championship Team from 2018-2022, and qualified for the Speedo Winter Junior Nationals from 2019-2022. She was named a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American in 2019 and served as CCAC’s team captain from 2020-2022.
“I’ve had so many lessons over the years and have learned how to work hard and manage a stressful schedule,” Woodring said. “I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my coaches and teammates.”
Woodring experienced continued success swimming for GHS. Unlike all other sports, competing classifications are combined at the state meet. As a freshman and sophomore, GHS was in Class 4A, which was combined with Class 5A for the final meet of the season. She placed fourth in 100-yard butterfly in 56.72 and also secured fifth place in the 100-yard backstroke at 58.08.
Her sophomore season ended with a fourth-place medal in the 100-yard freestyle (51.97) and fifth place finish in the 50-yard freestyle (24.27).
GHS dropped down to Class 3A in 2020. Woodring now had to compete against swimmers in 1A, 2A and 3A, and her runner-up placements in the 200- freestyle (1:52.70) and 100-yard backstroke (56.77) are the highest state finishes by a GHS swimmer.
She set a personal best time in the 100-yard backstroke during prelims at state as a senior in 56.18. She turned in a time of 56.25 in the finals for another runner-up placement. In the 100-yard butterfly, she clocked in at 57.04 for third.
Woodring’s eight individual state finals medals are the most of any GHS swimmer. As a senior, she set a pair of Calhoun Aquatic Center records in the 100-yard butterfly (56.89) and 100-yard backstroke (57.61). It is believed that Woodring also has a fair share of GHS records, though the school does not keep a record book.
Moving on
Woodring is projected to swim the 200- backstroke, 200- butterfly and 200-yard freestyle relay at Cincinnati. She credits parents Mark and Amy, sister Kaylin and former coaches and teammates for helping her realize her swimming potential.
Cincinnati currently competes in the American Conference but that will change in 2023. Woodring is ready to see what lies ahead and hopes she can serve as an inspiration to others to chase their dreams.
“I’m excited to see how college swimming goes,” she said. “It’s a different type of training and a different type of atmosphere. Hopefully, we make it to NCAAs my freshman year and win the conference. For my sophomore year, Cincinnati is moving to the Big 12 and hopefully we can stay competitive in that conference and keep progressing as a team.
“I hope that I helped plant the seed for some kids who want to swim at a higher level. Hopefully, I’ve been able to help other kids with some technique stuff over the years. I’ve always said that I want to leave Ellijay and see the college side of swimming, and hopefully I was a role model to some kid who has big dreams; if I can do it, they can do it, too.”