Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Al Blanton
Anna Gamotis was just six years old when she first joined the Jasper Swim Team, the city’s summer recreational league that she still competes with today. At the time, she had no grand ambitions for her future in sports; her parents, David and Jill Gamotis, simply sought to ensure she and her siblings were comfortable in the water and understood how to stay safe at the river, the beach, or anywhere else their family spent time around water.
Anna soon learned, though, that she enjoyed the competition. Racing against others, testing herself, and watching her progress kept her coming back to the pool, season after season.
“I liked racing and competing against people,” she says. “I thought that was fun, so I stuck with it. As I kept going, I actually got better and enjoyed it even more.”
Over the years in the summer program, she developed both her skills and her love of competition. That progress eventually carried over to the Jasper High School swim team, where she has competed during the academic year since seventh grade.
Anna quickly distinguished herself, becoming the only seventh grade swimmer from Jasper to qualify for the state meet. Her presence also helped secure a relay team qualification for the state meet that year that would not have happened without her.
“That was when I realized I was actually making an impact,” she says.
Now a junior at Jasper High School, Anna has established herself as one of the team’s most dependable and versatile swimmers under the guidance of coaches Katie Oliver and Jason Lynn. She currently holds the school record in the 200m individual medley and is part of relay teams that hold school records in the 200m freestyle relay, 200m medley relay, and 400m freestyle relay. While she has competed in every event over the years, her favorites are the 100m butterfly and the 200m individual medley, as she enjoys the demand for both physical endurance and technical precision.
The challenge, she says, is part of the reward.
“The 200 IM is pretty difficult, but it’s fun,” she says. “I like pushing myself and seeing what I’m capable of.”
That mindset has defined her swim career, especially when faced with obstacles that could have easily sidelined her.
In the fall of her sophomore year, just weeks before the state meet, Anna suffered a serious injury when she was run over by a golf cart, resulting in two stress fractures in her foot. Unable to walk normally or kick in the water, she was forced to adapt. Still, she remained committed to her team, adjusting her technique and continuing to train in whatever capacity she could, often through self-led swim sessions at the Memorial Park Natatorium.
At the state meet that year, she competed in relay events and helped her team finish eighth in the state while breaking school records.
“I couldn’t kick with my left foot, so I had to figure out how to swim without using it,” she says. “I didn’t set a personal record, but I was close to my normal times.”
Anna has also managed persistent shoulder pain throughout her high school career, requiring ongoing treatment and recovery work. Chiropractic care has played an important role in helping her remain in the water and continue performing at a high level.
“Bowen Chiropractic has treated my shoulder consistently and helped find solutions to make it better,” she says. “Even when I’m not injured, they help with maintenance to keep my body healthy and prevent new injuries.”
Her athletic commitment extends beyond the pool. As an eleventh grader, Anna joined Jasper High’s track and field, where she competes in the 60-, 100-, 200-, and 400-meter sprints under the leadership of coach Andy Franks. Anna says that she has enjoyed the incredibly supportive environment created by the team and that she has quickly fallen in love with the sport. The crossover training strengthens her overall athleticism and reinforces the discipline required to excel in both sports.
That discipline carries over into the classroom, where she maintains a 4.54 GPA while balancing a demanding schedule that includes early-morning practices, after-school training, and numerous leadership roles. She serves as a junior class officer, participates in student council, and is involved in National Honor Society, Beta Club, Key Club, Interact Club, Spanish Club, and Girls with Glory. She also serves as the news anchor for Jasper High School’s morning announcements. She is also a Jasper High School Ambassador and Walker County Ambassador.
“It’s hard to balance everything. Most of my social life during swim season comes from swim. I’ve had to learn how to manage my time better and stay focused,” she says. “The biggest lesson swimming has taught me is that hard work eventually pays off. If I apply that mindset to other parts of my life, I see the results there too.”
She has also embraced opportunities to mentor younger swimmers, helping teach lessons and encourage the next generation. Outside of school, she serves as a summer camp leader at Camp Winnataska, is heavily involved in her church’s youth department, and holds certifications in lifeguarding, scuba diving, and sailing.
“Swimming has made me stronger both physically and mentally, and I love the opportunity to hopefully influence the younger generation of swimmers to fall in love with the sport, see that hard work pays off, and chase their own goals and dreams one day,” she says.
As she looks ahead to the remainder of her high school career, Anna hopes to continue improving and make another appearance at the state meet before graduating. More than anything, she wants to finish knowing she gave her best effort. After graduating from Jasper in the spring of 2027, Anna plans to attend Auburn University and pursue a pre-med track.
Regardless of what comes next, swimming has already left its mark on Anna’s life, teaching her resilience, discipline, and confidence through every early morning practice, every race, and every setback overcome along the way. And her impact at Jasper High is already firmly established, both through records and results and in the example she sets daily for those who follow behind her. WL
