Patricia Forrester is doing something extra special for her 15th birthday on Halloween, and it has nothing to do with candy.
Forrester, a Savannah native, and fellow Georgia Coastal Aquatic Team member Preston Jenkins are attending the USA Swimming National Select Camp on Thursday through Sunday at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
"I was really excited because after going to the Zone Select Camp in May, they told us that the next step was the National Select Camp," Forrester said. "My goal was to be selected for this camp, and it shows how much all of my hard work has paid off. I look forward to training in the Olympic Training Center and meeting all of the other swimmers."
Highly decorated in state and regional competitions, Forrester and Jenkins have posted some of the best times in their age group in the country.
They were selected to be among 30 females ages 13-14 and 31 males ages 15-16 for the elite national camp.
"I am very excited for this experience to expand my knowledge of swimming and train with the best and the elite of the nation," said Jenkins, 15, who moved at age 9 from California to Savannah. "It was an honor to be chosen."
GCAT coach Bill Forrester, who is Patricia's father, also is making the trip and attending a coaching clinic. He said he looked forward to the pair training with other elite swimmers.
"I am proud of their performance in the water this past year that allowed them to be chosen for this prestigious camp," Bill Forrester said. "This training will prepare them for the highest level of competition nationally and internationally."