When a knee injury kept her out of the pool for a full season early in her high school swimming career, Chloe Barnard did not give up. She doubled down and found ways to contribute from the deck.

“She writes practices, she runs practices, she makes phone calls when they need to be, she lifts people up,” Warren Central swimming coach Terry Wong said. “She’s a cheerleader to those who need a cheerleader, a mom to those who need a mom. She has many hats like anybody else.”

On Thursday, she put on one more hat — a T-shirt, actually — bearing her college choice. Barnard signed papers officially accepting an offer to compete for Millsaps College next season.

“It’s a great feeling. I never thought that I would be here,” Barnard said. “If you asked me last year or two years ago I would’ve told you, ‘No, I’m never going to be that fast,’ or, ‘I’m never going to make it there.’ So to make it here today is mind-blowing.”

As an NCAA Division III member, Millsaps does not offer athletic scholarships. Barnard said she’s received an academic scholarship, however. She scored a 22 on her ACT and plans to major in art with the goal of being a professional photographer or graphic designer.

While Barnard has been successful in the classroom, she’s also worked hard to be a standout in the pool.

Like all good swimmers she’s able to compete in any stroke, but the sprint freestyle events are her best. She reached the MHSAA Class II state meet last fall in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle.

It wasn’t a bad finish for someone who originally got into swimming to learn how not to drown.

“It took me a little while for me to get into it,” she said. “Originally I started swimming just to be able to survive in the water and be able to take care of myself. Then it just evolved into the competitive side and I fell in love with it.”

Barnard joined the Vicksburg Swim Association and Warren Central’s team in seventh grade. She injured her knee the following year, and missed most of her eighth- and ninth-grade seasons.

Ironically, being out of the water helped Barnard emerge as a team leader, Wong said.

“She had a knee injury that took her out of the pool for a year and a half, and she still came to practice,” Wong said. “She would help coach individuals that were struggling with technique. Ever since she’s been in the water she’s been leading the group and doing for the team. It’s awesome that she’s given and given and given to the team, and now she’s seeing success on a collegiate level.”

Once she was able to swim again, Barnard steadily improved. A connection with Millsaps coach Brian Ware through the club team circuit helped lead to an offer from the college in Jackson and the rest is history.

Now, Barnard is excited to continue on with her competitive career at one of the sport’s highest levels.

“It’s a dream come true,” she said. “I knew I wanted to swim in college, but if I didn’t get to that was cool too. I was so blessed with the opportunity to go swim with Millsaps.”