ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: CORAL SHORES’ SWIMMING SENSATION CORLEY SMITH

Corley Smith 
Coral Shores, senior
Swimming

Coral Shores senior Corley Smith is already an outstanding swimmer. But she’s also on a constant quest for improvement. Last year, Corley took fifth place overall and was the second female swimmer to complete the Swim to Alligator Lighthouse. This year she came in first in the women’s category and third place overall. She completed the 8+ mile open water swim in rough conditions the morning after winning multiple events for the Hurricanes at their opening meet against Doctors Charter School.  

On Sept. 14 against Key West, everything Smith touched turned to gold. She won the 200 freestyle by 25 seconds, was part of the winning 200 free relay and 400 free relay team and won the 500 freestyle. Corley was 16 seconds in front of her sister, Layne, in the distance race, but once the pair had finished, it was almost a minute and a half before another swimmer reached the finish line. 

“Corley is a coach’s dream. Not just because she works hard and has talent, but because of her natural leadership ability and sportsmanship on the pool deck.” 

– KELLY OWENS, CORAL SHORES SWIM COACH

“Corley is the first to help a struggling teammate,” said coach Kelly Owens. “She is always actively leading a cheer for swimmers in the pool. Corley is kind and a great example of what it means to be a leader.”

For her amazing accomplishments, both in the water and on the deck, Corley Smith is the Keys Weekly Athlete of the Week.

Corley Smith, Coral Shores, senior, Swimming
Tracy McDonald fled to the Keys from the frozen mountains of Pennsylvania hours after graduating from college and never looked back. She is a second generation coach and educator, and has taught in the public school system for over 25 years. She and her husband met at a beginning teacher meeting in 1997 and have three children born and raised in Monroe County. In her free time, McDonald loves flea markets, historical fiction and long runs in the heat.