Athlete Spotlight: Evan Mulloy

Evan Mulloy's decision to swim for the College of William and Mary next year had little to do with money, though he will receive some for academics.

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The Lakeside senior was offered swimming scholarships elsewhere, but chose to swim for the Tribe, who offer no swimming scholarships.

He said he loved the tradition, the academic program and the school's success rate in sending students to graduate school.

Mulloy wants to study history and later attend medical school. His mother, Dr. Laura Mulloy, is the interim chairwoman of the Department of Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia and his father, Dr. Anthony Mulloy, is MCG's chief of endocrinology and nutrition.

"I chose William and Mary because of the historical aspect of the college," Evan said. "Being the second-oldest college had some kind of effect on me. That's pretty prestigious."

Mulloy graduated from Lakeside with a 4.0 GPA, finished in the top 10 percent of his class and was a member of the National Honor Society in 2007 and 2008. He also was a USA Swimming Scholastic All American in 2007.

But Mulloy can get it done in the pool and the classroom. His specialty is the 200-meter butterfly, which worked out well for Tribe swimming coach Matt Crispino.

Crispino identified the 200 fly as his team's weakest area as he prepares for the next season, and it's an area he thinks Mulloy will help.

"It was a nice fit for us to get him, because he's going to be able to step up and contribute right away as a freshman," Crispino said.

Crispino has yet to see Mulloy swim in person. But he's seen Mulloy's times, and talking to him on the phone and through e-mail gave Crispino a good feel for Mulloy's personality.

"He seems like a bright, motivated young man," Crispino said. "Some things you don't see too often in high school kids these days.

"He's very well spoken, he's articulate, he's bright and it's clear to me he's a very hard worker. You take those things and you put it together with the times he's already accomplished ... I think there's no telling where he might take his swimming to."

Mulloy would like to take his swimming to the NCAA Championships.

Adam Byars, Mulloy's coach at the Aiken-Augusta Swim League, said he thinks his pupil has what it takes to reach his goal.

"He's definitely a high achiever; a type-A personality," Byars said. "He's very much a perfectionist. I think that's an excellent goal for the next four years as he keeps developing and improving."

Mulloy was a Southeast Sectional qualifier the past three years and a member of USA Swimming Zone's Team Georgia in 2007.

His said his finishes at the Class AAAA state meets are among his fondest memories. The Panthers medley team that included Mulloy finished second at state this year after a third-place finish last season.

"Lakeside's always been pretty strong," Mulloy said. "We've always shown those private schools we know how to get it done."