Despite setting career best times at the Big Ten Championships recently, Bronwyn Pasloski's best swims are still ahead of her, says University of Indiana swim coach Ray Looze.

With the 2013 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships fast approaching, Looze said his third-year star swimmer from Whitehorse is primed for a breakout.

"This has been Bronwyn's finest season that she's had at Indiana,” he told the Star yesterday. "I really believe Bronwyn is on the cusp of something special. Her confidence has never been higher and technically, she's looked really, really good.

I'm very excited about what she might be able to do at the upcoming NCAA championships.”

Pasloski, 20, set top career times in both her 100- and 200-metre breaststroke swims at the Big Ten Championships with respective times of 1:00.63 and 2:11.06, and earned herself an invite to the NCAA's.

The conference championships were held in Bloomington, Ind. from Feb. 27 to March 2. The NCAA championships are scheduled for March 28 to 30 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Pasloski attended the NCAA's as a freshman, but missed the cut last year.

"It's the big shot,” she said. "It's a really fast meet, and there's not much of a gap between the fastest person and the last person invited. Honestly, anything can happen. I always have high expectations, but I just want to try to make a second swim, or at least the B finals. Making top 16 would be an ultimate goal for me.”

Looze played an instrumental role in recruiting Pasloski – the youngest daughter of Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski – to join the Hoosiers in the summer of 2009.

Looze believes Pasloski can be an NCAA All-American this year.

To do so, she will need to make the championship final (top eight). Swimmers who qualify for the consolation final (top-16) are considered honourable mention All-Americans.

In order to qualify, Pasloski will need to shave more than a second off her career-best time in the 200-metre breaststroke, Looze explained.

"I really believe that's possible for her, based on what I've seen training-wise,” Looze said. "She's kind of like a ticking time bomb, in a good way. It's just a matter of doing enough good things to where you get to a tipping point and you get that breakthrough. It's just a matter of time.

"I really feel like we haven't seen the best of Bronwyn yet. Just wait … She's like that lion lying in the weeds. I really, really believe that.”

Pasloski admitted she feels more comfortable in the pool as a junior with the Hoosiers. After a steep learning curve in her first two seasons, she feels she's finally "getting the hang of it.

"This year has definitely been my best year all around,” she said. "I have really high hopes for next year. There's only great things (ahead).”

Her consistent swims this season, followed by breakthrough times at the Big Ten Championships, have Looze excited about what is still to come. Pasloski's focus on the technical aspect of her stroke has led to positive results in the pool.

Looze said while the transition from a small city like Whitehorse to a major swim program like Indiana is tough for young swimmers, Pasloski has impressed as a young leader and a team player.

"Sometimes people can erupt as a freshman or a sophomore, but other times they sort of work their way into it,” Looze said.

"Bronwyn's that type of person where she really needs to be confident and we need to have a good plan. I really feel like what we've done with her training this year has really been on point … She's going to get what she deserves and the team will greatly benefit once we get there.

Looze said the Hoosiers are aiming at a top-10 finish at this year's NCAA's, after finishing 13th with a young team last season.

Following the NCAA championships, Pasloski will head to Victoria, B.C. with some of her Canadian teammates to swim in the world trials.

Pasloski said she's come to appreciate her hometown "more than she ever expected” during her time away.

"I'm definitely very proud to be able to be doing what I'm doing coming from a small program,” she said. "I find myself, when I have a chance, bragging about where I'm from and all the crazy experiences I get to do.”