Salisbury senior swimmer Jon Anderson took a two-week trip over the summer, stretching down the east coast and back up the country.

The end result was a collegiate decision for Anderson.

After visiting a number of schools on that trip, Anderson decided that Missouri University of Science and Technology was the best fit for him. He chose to continue his swimming career with the Miners a number of months after that trip on March 27, a day after his birthday.

His other choices included the University of Tennesee and the University of South Carolina, among others.

"I definitely liked the college when I went there," Anderson said. "I liked the campus and I liked the major, nuclear engineering. I liked Tennessee for all of that, too. I really did like [University of] Tennessee and Missouri [S&T]; they were almost equal with each other. Missouri I felt was a better offer."

Anderson, who was named the Dennis McGinley Swimmer of the Meet at this year's District 11 Swimming Championships, always had a passion for nuclear engineering

"When I went through school, I loved chemistry and I loved physics," Anderson said. "My favorite part about chemistry was the nuclear part. So I looked a lot into it and I would research it on my own time. I found that I really liked nuclear engineering."

He admits it wasn't an easy decision, going back and forth with Tennessee. But the decision to ultimately join Missouri S&T is something he couldn't be happier with.

During his four-year career at Salisbury, Anderson's list of accomplishments and awards are plenty. He is a part of three District 11 Class AA swimming records (one individual and two relays), holds four pool records and was named an All American twice.

But what stands out to Anderson was the way his junior season ended in the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships, which he has been to four times during his career. It was the last race in which Anderson led off the 400-yard freestyle relay and propelled the Falcons onto their first state championship in school history.

"Even in my whole entire high school career, I think if I were to forget everything else, the thing I would never forget is looking up at the scoreboard my junior year and noticing that if we won the four-free relay, we won states," Anderson said. "If the team right behind us, Franklin, won the four-free relay, they won states.

"We knew we had to win. I was the leadoff, and I remember jumping in, and I remember giving every ounce of energy I had in the water."