ASHLAND — Erin Frye’s college plans took an unexpected turn.

For the longest time, the Ashland Blazer swimming standout felt certain her path led to University of Louisville.

Instead, Frye will begin her college career at University of Cincinnati this fall.

“I never expected that I would be going to Cincinnati,’’ Frye said. “Since I was 13, I said it was Louisville all the way. It’s funny how things work out. I think it’s for the best.’’

Louisville’s financial offer didn’t pan out as well as Frye had hoped. UC became interested in her this spring and put together an attractive scholarship package.

Frye was also impressed with Cincinnati head coach Monty Hopkins’ involvement in the process.

“He was recruiting me pretty hard, calling about twice a week,’’ she said. “With Louisville, they would e-mail me every once in a while. With UC, I talked to the head coach. It made me feel like they really wanted me.’’

Frye, who graduated with a 3.7 grade point average, is one of the top female swimmers to come through the Ashland YMCA program. Last year, she became the first girl from the team to qualify for Y Nationals.

More recently, Frye excelled at the Kentucky Y championships and continued her success at the five-state zone level.

Now, she’s excited to be a part of a Bearcat swimming program on the return to prominence.

“They used to be in the top two in the Big East (Conference) and people were always going to the NCAAs,’’ Frye said. “Then they had to do rebuild their pool, and were off campus for a while.’’

Frye is looking forward to training and competing at the Keating Aquatic Center, which opened in 2006.

“It’s an awesome facility,’’ she said. “Every year the recruiting classes that come in at UC are getting better and better.’’

Frye excels in the backstroke. As a senior, she finished seventh in the 100 back and eighth in the 100 freestyle at the state high school championships. She also earned a spot on the All-Region 4 team.

Not bad for someone whose initial interest in swimming came from wanting to be a life guard.

Frye began working with Ashland Y coach Ryan Ferguson as a fifth-grader.

“Since then he pushed me, especially the last two years,’’ she said. “I can talk to him about anything. Ryan will tell me straight up what I’m doing wrong.’’

Last year, Frye said she was going through a rough period when her times were not dropping and she wondered if she would be able to swim at the Division I level.

“Ryan just said to keep working hard, that I haven’t reached my full potential,’’ Frye said. “I have a bad tendency of seeing the negative side. He will sit down and make a list of everything I’m doing right.’’

Hopkins has also expressed high hopes for the swimmer.

“It seems like Monty Hopkins really believes in me,’’ Frye said. “He told me on the recruiting trip that he expects me to be the Big East breakout swimmer of the year. It’s feels really good to hear that from a college coach. I’m so excited, I can hardly wait.’’

ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.