While many student-athletes aim for the NCAA championship in their sport, few have as many day-to-day responsibilities as Nancy Rowell, a senior swimmer and women's swim team captain at Metropolitan State College of Denver.

A 26-year-old nontraditional student, Rowell has two daughters, three jobs, a 4.000 grade-point average and a full-time practice schedule similar to any other swimmer seeking to qualify for the Division II Women's Swimming and Diving Championships.

What may be most amazing about Rowell is the fact that she does it all while serving as a role model for the younger student-athletes on the team.

"Her work ethic is tremendous, both in the pool and in the classroom," said women's head coach Jim Richey. "She never misses a day, and every set is an A-plus effort."

Teammate Jess Schwartzkopf, a sophomore, also appreciates the effort Rowell puts in every day.

"She has a great training ethic. I've never seen anyone that has as many jobs and kids, while maintaining a perfect grade-point average," Schwartzkopf said.

Rowell is a majoring in athletic training, and she plans to pursue a master's degree when she graduates. Right now she works as a student athletic trainer at the University of Denver sports medicine clinic. She also is the head coach of a 120-member summer swim team, and she makes extra money for her family by working as a waitress.

She is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council at Metropolitan State, and the founding president of the school's Student Athletic Trainers' Association.

Oh, and she also is mom to 4-year-old Amber and 3-year-old Amanda, a job she takes seriously.

"I'm basically an insomniac, so that helps," Rowell said of her hectic schedule. "I don't do anything (in the evenings after swim practice) but play with my children until they go to sleep. It's a very important time in their lives, and I know I have to be there for them. Basically everything I do is for their good."

A typical in-season day for Rowell begins at 4 a.m., and swim practice lasts from 5 to 7, during which her mother or a babysitter stays home with her daughters. Then Rowell heads back home to roust Amber and Amanda from bed and take them to school before she heads off to her own classes and work.

She picks up the girls for lunch, drops Amber back at school and drops Amanda off with Rowell's mother before heading back to the pool until about 5 p.m. Then it's dinner, play time, bath time and tucking the girls into bed.

Once that's accomplished, out come the biomechanics books and biology books, and it's study time for as long as Rowell can keep her eyes open. A few short hours later, it all starts over again.

"Nancy is an exceptional student-athlete and a tireless worker," said assistant athletics director Steve Allen. "She has tremendous dedication and discipline and is very goal-oriented. Her accomplishments are amazing considering her family and schedule."

Rowell's no slouch in the pool either. Earlier this year she knocked five seconds off her 200-yard backstroke time of last season. In October, she posted a 2:12.67 in a meet against the University of Notre Dame and Colorado State University, drawing within 2.60 seconds of the required 2:09.99 qualifying time for the national meet.

Last season Rowell fell only .08 seconds short of qualifying for the Division II championships.

"I have been working really hard this season and I hope to qualify very soon, Rowell said in January. "I enjoy being tired and sore. It gives me inner motivation and pushes me further. Swimming is all about discipline and goal setting, two things you need in life."

Rowell also enjoys swimming with the younger members of her team. "I think it's a great situation for me to be in. The rest

of the team keeps me young, and I enjoy it a lot."

Rowell did in fact qualify for this year's championships, where she placed 15th in the 200-yard backstroke.