BOILING SPRINGS - At a swim meet, the noise is deafening as parents, friends, coaches, teammates, and fans shout for the six swimmers in the pool. But they can only watch - the swimmer alone must strive to make or break records. The crowd cheers and encourages, standing witness to the swimmer's performance.

Gardner-Webb's Terra Wilson, a senior, gives her "crowd of witnesses" credit for cheering her on and helping her improve. Not only is she a record-setting swimmer and Olympic Trials qualifier, she is goal-oriented in the classroom and her personal life as well.

Terra, 21, is a psychology major from Potter Valley, Calif. She came to GWU for two reasons: "I looked for Division I swimming and a Christian school. That narrowed it to a couple schools in the nation." After several recruiting trips, she made the GWU team and the subsequent cross-country move.

Now a senior, Terra's primary goal is graduating in May. She plans to go directly to grad school for sports psychology. While she hasn't picked a grad school yet, Terra sees herself eventually working with a college swim team as a sports psychologist.

In swimming, Terra is aiming for one of the top eight spots at the NCAA's and for an All-American spot. Summer of 2008 will find her swimming in the national Olympic trials, making Wilson the first athlete in Gardner-Webb history to do so, regardless of sport. While she is excited about the possibility of swimming in the Olympics, she's not counting on anything.

"It's not a goal," Terra says, laughing, "because a goal is supposed to be attainable. It's still just a dream for me.

"I have so many people - here and back home - believing in me," she says. "It would be cool for them (if she makes it to the Olympics)."

While Terra speaks modestly of her achievements, swim coach Mike Simpson says, "She is a fierce competitor who loves challenges. Terra loves it when someone who is as fast as her is in one of her events. When that happens, she responds by turning it up a notch and swimming faster. She loves to race!"

Coach Simpson has been a driving force in Terra's improvement as a swimmer.

"We have a mutual trust," he says. "I know that she will listen to new ideas, try them, work hard, and strive to be great in her sport. She knows I will find things that I think will work for her and will always try and push her to the next level." Coach has found Terra always eager to learn and willing to give her best.

Although she's been swimming since she was six, swimming was just another sport to Terra. She played basketball, volleyball, soccer and ran track. The youngest of four girls, Terra has always looked up to her older sisters, wanting to be like them. Now, as a member of the GWU swim team, she has another source of inspiration.

"It's like the cloud of witnesses verse," she says, referencing Hebrews 12:5. "I have that in the team."

On the team, Terra says, "There are definitely struggles, but we are genuinely supportive of each other. After the freshmen came in this year, the team seemed to take longer to mesh. As a captain, I was weighed down by it, but Christmas training was good for us."

"Terra is a humble, quiet leader who lets her actions do the talking for her most of the time," Coach Simpson says.

Terra enjoys watching the team build, though. There is a place for every one of them. "With 25 girls, someone is always able to help you," she says.

"Terra is loved by her teammates," Coach says. "She wants to contribute to the team in every way anyone else is expected to - both in and out of the water."

While she excels in both areas, Terra says it is hard to find a balance between swimming and school work. Living with three teammates this year helps; if they're doing work, it's easier to get hers done. Coach says he has noticed a difference. "I think her attitude toward school has changed a little. She seems to take it more seriously as she has gotten older. Part of that was finding the right major that she could get excited about."

Terra says balancing school and swimming is "the worst when we have morning practice. When I get back after dinner, I have to take a couple hours of down time." Terra loves to watch movies to relax; recent favorites are "Coach Carter," "Step Up," and "Miracle."

Graduation in May marks for Terra the achievement of one goal and the continuing race toward another. She is planning to move to Charlotte this summer to begin Olympic training with the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club and United States Olympic Committee Center for Excellence under the supervision of Assistant Olympic Coach David Marsh. Though they can only support her from the pool deck, Terra is grateful to her "cloud of witnesses" as she pushes to finish her race.