Zach Darden signs NLI to swim at East Carolina

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 18, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

The dream had seemed like a fantasy for the past two years, but it turned into reality Monday afternoon.

Sharply dressed in a dark purple button-down shirt and gold vest, Zach Darden signed a national letter-of-intent to swim with East Carolina University next winter.

The goal has been completed.

Darden, a senior at Wayne School of Engineering, became the third Wayne County swimmer to sign a D-I scholarship in the past six years. Eastern Wayne alum Mason Chenier, a six-time state champion in the sprint events, inked an NLI with Auburn University in 2009. Teammate Alexander Robinson signed with Georgetown University the same season.

"Being able to compete at that level, that's been the goal all along," said Darden. "I really wanted to go Division I so I could see the higher level of competition. A lot of the ECU guys trained with us over the summer, so I know I lot of them through that.

"(The experience) helped me a ton ... seeing the competition (and) watching them."

Darden joins a highly-recognized collegiate program that's directed by head coach Rick Kobe. During his three decades with the Pirates, he's churned out 68 qualifiers for the NCAA championships, four All-Americans and nearly 150 conference champs.

But the accomplishments carry little weight for Kobe.

He's focused on the swimmer outside of the pool -- their mindset, their classwork and what he needs to do as a coach to help an athlete achieve their goals.

That impressed Darden.

"He was focused on me," he said.

During constant exchanges of emails that resemble question-answer sessions, Darden has discovered Kobe that has a game plan in place. He has opted to trim Darden's workload in the pool to three events -- the 50 and 100 freestyles, and 100 butterfly.

Darden finished third in the 100 free in last year's N.C. High School Athletic Association Classes 1-A/2-A meet. The previous year, he emerged as the state runner-up in the 200 individual medley (IM).

"He's given me pointers as to what he's going to do help me with when I get there," Darden said. "The three events ... he said we're going to focus on those and get you as strong as you can be. He already knows my times."

When Darden met several of the swimmers, he immediately noticed their size and their strength.

"I've talked to (freshman) Ian (Eagle) at least once or twice a week, and he says it's a completely different world in a good way and a bad way," Darden laughed. "In a good way, it's because you're getting awesome training and awesome resources.

"But the bad way is you're going to hurt really bad."

Darden understands the strength and speed he needs to consistently compete in the 50 and 100 free. The fly will require more work under water and less strokes, which will come from core and leg strength.

While his goals are already in place at ECU, Darden has some unfinished business on the high school scene. He still wants that goal medal that identifies him as a state champion.

"That's a big boulder on my shoulders," Darden said. "I'm hoping this year is going to be different. We've already laid out a training plan to get me to where I need to be.

"We're slowly, but surely approaching it. I think we're going to be more prepared this time."

And turn one more dream into reality.