THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996 TAG: 9602270141
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KEITH POMPEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
It's the fall of 1993, and a group of Lake Taylor freshmen talk about joining the basketball team.
But Theo Weaver has something else in mind.
``I want to try out for the swim team,'' Weaver said to the group. ``That's one of the sports that you don't hurt yourself.''
After laughing, one of the others asked, ``Why do you want to do that? Real black kids don't swim. It's for white kids.
``Plus it's for punks.''
For the next three years Weaver was called everything from punk to sellout.
But Weaver - now a senior - wouldn't change his mind.
His commitment might be the best decision he ever made. In the Eastern District meet two weeks ago, the Titans' captain finished fourth in the 50-meter freestyle, sixth in the 100 freestyle and anchored Lake Taylor's second-place 200 individual medley relay and 400 free relay.
After the meet, he was the male recipient of the John A. Tigo award.
``I felt honored to receive the award,'' Weaver said. ``I was kind of shocked. I didn't win any races and my relays took second place.''
But the Tigo award doesn't always go to the most valuable swimmers in the Eastern District. Weaver won because of his commitment to excellence.
The 17-year-old has perfect attendance since elementary school. He has worked a part-time job since age 9. As the youngest of six siblings, he concentrates on becoming only the second to graduate high school. And the first to go to college.
``I saw my brother Edward graduate from high school,'' Weaver said. ``He wanted to go to college, but he never took the entrance exams. After that, I said in my mind, `Hopefully I'll get a chance to go.' ''
In order to achieve this goal, Weaver has given up most of his free time.
But sometimes he becomes discouraged. When other teenagers call him names for being different, it doesn't make the situation better.
``Sometimes I feel like I'm not going to be able to graduate high school,'' he said. ``There is a lot pressure.''
But Weaver credits his father-son relationship with Titans swim coach Scott Evans for inspiring him.
``We talk about everything from school to girls,'' Evans said. ``Theo seems to have a neighbor pressure. A pressure to keep him down and not be able to make it. He could sell drugs, but instead he is working late nights at Taco Bell. He is trying to make a honest kind of living. There's a lot of pressure on this kid.
``But I'll tell you what. . . . He will come through in flying colors.'' by CNB