A deadly crash changed Amanda Wilson’s life, but not her spirit or success in the pool

Amanda Wilson had her next four years all planned out.

As one of the top girls swimmers in San Luis Obispo County, Wilson was recruited by the University of Hawaii, and following her senior year at Templeton High School planned to join the Rainbow Warriors swim team.

But on Jan. 6, on a winding back road in North County, everything changed.

Wilson’s friend since kindergarten, Shelby Sudbrink, died that morning when she lost control of her Toyota 4Runner and crashed into a tree. Her death shocked many on the Central Coast and hit Wilson especially hard just as the swim season was about to begin.

“Shelby was always so excited to come to my meets and be a part of my swimming,” Wilson said this week. “Her loss has a huge impact on everything I do now.”

From that moment, her her priorities changed.