East Ridge freestyle swimmer Tidd not done yet

His parents saw it in him at an early age.

When James Tidd was 5 years old, he finished third in a 25-yard freestyle race near his childhood home in Naperville, Ill He didn't take it well.

"I was incredibly disappointed by that," said Tidd, now a senior at East Ridge High School. "My parents remember it like it was yesterday. They knew from that moment I was going to be a swimmer."

Tidd's competitive spirit has driven him to become one of Minnesota's best high school swimmers. Tidd, who will swim for the Gophers next fall, earned three gold medals at last season's Class 2A state meet. He won the 50-yard freestyle championship and swam on the Raptors' winning 200 individual medley and 400 freestyle relays, along with placing third in the 100 freestyle.

"James is a competitor," East Ridge coach Billy Cuevas said. "No matter what he does he just wants to win. He wants to be the best."

Tidd not only has his sights set on state titles in the 50 and 100 freestyles this season, he also wants to break the state meet records in both events.

"I've had my eyes on those for a while," Tidd said.

Tidd doesn't have the typical height and length of some sprinters and has an unusual "shoulder-driven" stroke, relying heavily on the upper body rather than his kick, according to Cuevas.

However, Cuevas said Tidd is a smart swimmers who has the fast-twitch muscle and power needed to succeed in the sport's fastest races.

"Great sprinters make sure they're going to do whatever it takes to get their hand on the wall first," Cuevas said. "Sprints are so quick, everything has to be perfect. You have to make sure you're paying attention to detail. James is willing to put in the effort and the hard work in. When you combine his competitiveness and his work ethic, along with his talent, that's why James is as good a swimmer as he is."

At East Ridge, Tidd has gotten a boost from teammate Kent Rabideaux. His close friend is the state's top returning 50 freestyler not named James Tidd. Rabideaux finished third in the 50 at last season's state meet and was part of both the Raptors' champion relay teams. Tidd said the friendly rivalry has benefited them both.

"It's a hard relationship to explain, but it definitely drives both of us to become better," he said. "I don't know how I would've been at the state meet last year if I didn't have Kent, and the other swimmers, driving me."

"If everyone sets their mind to it and everyone works as hard as they can, I think we can be right where we were last year, if not better," Tidd said.

Though he has secured three state titles and a Division I scholarship, don't expect the voracious Tidd to rest on his laurels.