Athlete Spotlight: James Wood swimmer David Dorsey

James Wood High School 18-year-old senior

Sport: Swimming. Main events: 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle

Parents: Wendy and Tupper Dorsey

Hometown: Winchester

What do you love about swimming: I really love the competitive atmosphere of it. The relays are really my favorite part about competing. Just working with a group of guys, it’s fun.

Most memorable moment in swimming: Breaking the school record for the 200 medley relay, which I believe was my freshman year. That was really fun. It was against Clarke County in Strasburg. We didn’t find out until a week or two later that we broke the meet record. That was really exciting, because I wasn’t expecting that at all.

Most embarrassing moment in swimming: My freshman year, we were doing a 200 freestyle relay. I thought it was a 400 freestyle relay. I started to do a 100 and I did a flip turn for it, and [my teammate] dove on top of me. That got us disqualified, but it was funny looking back on it. The coach, for the next couple 200 relays, would tell me, ‘Remember, this is only a 50.’

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Michael Phelps; just because I think he was an amazing athlete and seems like an interesting guy to meet. Willie Nelson; I like some of his music, and he just seems like a really interesting, nice guy. And lastly, my dad’s dad Joe Dorsey; I never got to meet him. I’ve always heard good things about him, so I’d like to see who he was as a person.

What’s the best athletic advice you’ve ever received: My coach [Alan Cavanagh] told me to keep my arms out when I’m swimming, the freestyle specifically, because I was crossed over. That’s really helped, so that’s been good.

If you could go on a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go: I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska and do some fishing up there for the big salmon.

Favorite teacher: Junior year in high school, [Deborah] Grumbacher. She taught AP World History II. History has always been my favorite subject, but she just did a really good job of making me want to learn. I enjoyed the class.

Favorite athlete: Michael Phelps

Favorite team: Washington Redskins

Favorite movie: “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”

Favorite TV show: “SpongeBob SquarePants”

Favorite song: “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

Favorite food: Key lime pie

Plans after high school: I plan on attending a four-year college. I don’t know the exact one, yet. I plan on getting a business degree of some sort. Our family owns and operates our own farm in Berryville, so I’d like to come back and hopefully run that after college.

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki