At first glance, Michael Thibert looks like he’d be a great football player.
Thibert stands well over six feet tall. His frame is hard to distinguish underneath his baggy sweatshirt, but it’s clear Thibert has the look of an athlete. He’s on the defensive line for Mansfield High School while also playing some tight end.The hardest part to believe is this massive person can’t even vote -- Thibert is just a freshman. Actually, the hardest part to believe is that Thibert isn’t making news as a football player for Mansfield just yet.He’s actually making waves as a swimmer for the Tigers. Thibert finished first in two events last week at the District 7-5A meet and is preparing for his first-ever regional meet this weekend.“It’s been a big jump for me from eighth grade,” Thibert said. “Everything is so different. Coping with school work is a lot harder.”Thibert finished first in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle. He said he’s more of a sprinter and also participates on the 200-meter relay team.Thibert has been swimming for a while even before Mansfield for various club teams. But he said last week’s district meet was on another level compared to some of his previous big meets.“It was a pretty good meet,” Thibert said. “I really don’t know how to describe it or put it into words. The atmosphere was electric and everyone was excited.”Thibert said he wasn’t overwhelmed on the big stage. That’s one of the reasons he feels he performed so well -- his confidence. There’s no reason to doubt him, either. The district meet must have seemed like an afterthought after all the work Thibert had put into his swimming and other school activities throughout the season.Whether it was swimming, football or schoolwork, Thibert admits he has rarely had free time in his first year at Mansfield. During the football season, Thibert said he woke up early and was in the pool up to an hour before classes started.Then after his school day was finished, he hit the field with the Tigers football team. Sometimes, he said, he’d do some swimming after that.“There’s not much time for anything,” Thibert said with a laugh. “You just had to figure out a way to fit things in. I didn’t have any time to myself in the first semester.”For someone so young in the sport, Thibert doesn’t talk like a freshman. His answers are calm and cool, as if he’s been doing this for years. Thibert said you need that kind of confidence to compete in swimming.He said he doesn’t want to sound arrogant, but he’s definitely confident in his abilities.“You have to keep a calm head,” Thibert said. “Stay focused and get what you need to get done. You need to have confidence but not to be overconfident.”He’ll need to be at his best this weekend at regionals in Keller. Thibert will be going up against some of the best swimmers in the state. He isn’t worried about the tougher competition -- he’s excited to face it.“I know Southlake is in the region and one of the best in the state,” he said. “I’d love to beat them and put it on my bucket list.”Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
