DALTON, Ga. — The list of accolades for former Dalton High School swimmer Taylor Dale could probably stretch the entire length of a pool, but he’s never been one to focus on the individual. Dale’s been honored as a Southeastern Conference swimmer of the week, found himself on medal stands at conference championships and littered his name throughout the University of Georgia record books.

But as his college career comes to an end, Dale’s coach will remember him for something more meaningful than records and is planning to honor that.

“I think of him as the consummate team kid,” Georgia coach Jack Baurele said. “He did so much to lift his teammates. We do our captains at the end of the season and he will be named one of our permanent team captains, which is pretty special. He will go down as a more important swimmer in our history than people realize. We’ve had a great run (as a team) in his career and he was a gigantic part of that. We’re going to miss him.”

Dale’s career at Georgia began four years ago after he lead Dalton to a state championship in 2013. A former GHSA state champion in both the backstroke and the butterfly, he focused more on the backstroke in college and did very well. He holds the school record for the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 44.64 seconds and is tied for the 200 backstroke record at 1:40.03.

That record time in the 100 yard came at this year’s NCAA championships, but not when Dale wanted it to. In the preliminary heats, Dale finished tied for the eighth and last spot in the “A” final, an event which Dale had been trying to crack in to the last four years. The tie meant he and Shane Ryan from Penn State University had to do a swim-off for the last spot. Dale lost and therefore had to compete in the consolation final.

“I was upset, I’ve been chasing that A final for four years and to me personally, I feel like I should have been in it not just this past year but three of the four years,” Dale said. “I expected it of myself, but things don’t always work out. I just told myself not to let it bother me and to come back (for finals) and show everyone what I’m made of. I just wanted to have fun and enjoy my last 100 back for Georgia.”

He did just that. Dale blew away the competition in the consolation final and posted that school-record time. Had he been in the “A” final, he would have placed fourth and the time was the seventh fastest for the 100 yard backstroke in NCAA history.

Another facet of the narrative is that just before the swim-off with Ryan, Dale competed in the 400 freestyle relay. He could have asked Bauerle to let someone else take his spot on the relay so he could focus on the swim-off. Despite Dale having a long day of competition, featuring several swims, Bauerle knew better than to even suggest it.

“He wouldn’t have even considered it,” Bauerle said. “I wouldn’t even bring it up to him because he would have been upset with me for even thinking it. I wish he hadn’t been in that situation.”

In addition to his individual records, Dale is also part of four school-record relay teams including the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, 200 medley and 400 medley.

“I always loved seeing him up there for a relay,” Bauerle said. “Any time he was up there I knew we were going to get 100 percent of his effort. He’s just such a committed athlete and he’s such a tough kid.”

Dale’s remarkable career at Georgia came to an end in an unfitting fashion. It’s been a long journey for Dale along the way as he recalled he didn’t think he even wanted to go to Georgia until his senior year at Dalton. Now he can’t have pictured himself going anywhere else.

“Initially I didn’t want to stay in state, I wanted to go out of state,” Dale said. “I wanted to experience new things and get away from home, but (former Dalton coach Charles) Todd convinced me to take the trip and (Bauerle) sold me and the atmosphere of the program sold me.

“Coming in as a freshman you don’t really think about what it means to you to represent your school. It’s all new experiences and new crowds and new faces. But as you progress, at least for me, I really started to appreciate it and I am proud to represent Georgia and my teammates and my coaches. I couldn’t have imagine myself anywhere else.”

Bauerle said he could see that spirit every day in Dale, and appreciates when a local kid understands that and makes the most of his opportunity. Dale’s swimming career isn’t over either as he now will try to qualify for the world championships and the world university games this summer after graduating in December, and Baurele knows he will continue to thrive.

“I love to see an in-state kid come here and do well,” Baurele said. “The part I am the most proud about is that he became a better swimmer every year. He knows he’s as good as anyone and has really gained a lot of confidence. I think he’s only going to get better and he still loves the sport.”

As he looks towards the next chapter, true to form, Dale said his biggest takeaway from his time with the Bulldogs will be what the team accomplished, not himself.

“For some, swimming is an individual sport, but it’s more of a combination of individual and team,” he said. “I am more proud of what Georgia’s men’s and women’s teams have accomplished the past four years. The women have been lights out and my freshman and junior seasons were the highest the men have ever finished (at NCAAs).

“I came into this season wanting to give as much as a could. Obviously I wanted to end my career on a high note and even though it may not have finished the way I wanted to individually, but it help[ed me realize how great a team and teammates I’m surrounded by. They inspire me to do better and I hope I did too.”