For several years, Robyn Miller was blessed with swimming ability that allowed her to be wildly successful without being mad about practice.

It's happy days now that Miller has been given the gift of greater motivation.

Miller already has broken six school records -- four in individual events -- this season for A&M Consolidated. The sophomore has emerged as a leader of the team that is a huge favorite to take the girls title at this weekend's District 12-5A swimming and diving championships.

The two-day meet will be held Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Texas A&M Student Rec Center Natatorium.

Miller entered her high school career with great expectations spawned by a highly successful stretch as a club swimmer. She was dominant in her age group at age 12, background that made it somewhat surprising last year when she was good, rather than great, as a freshman at Consol. Miller won two district titles but finished second at regionals in her best event and did not qualify for the state meet.

"I was winning because of talent because I didn't really practice all the time," Miller said. "It made me realize I had to work if I wanted to get better. It was a shock. I just started working harder, so I could get back to where I was before."

Already considered a hard worker during practices before school, Miller started making more afternoon workouts with her club team. She worked more, and even a little harder.

"All of a sudden she stepped it up, and when she did, it raised everybody's game," Consol coach Ryan Goodwyn said. "Even the guys had to step up, because Robyn sets such a high standard in practice."

After the practice laps went up, records came down. Miller holds the school mark in the 50-yard freestyle, 200 freestyle, 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. She also swam legs on the teams that broke Consol records in the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.

Goodwyn said Miller could own almost every school record -- a new mark in the backstroke might be toughest for her -- before she graduates. He believes it lit a fire under Miller last year when the girls she had been beating started catching up to her.

"Eddie Reese, the U.S. Olympic coach, says athletes who hate to lose is a much smaller percentage than those who like to win," Goodwyn said. "That's Robyn. Everybody likes to win. Robyn hates to lose. That's a big difference.

"She's not afraid of anybody. I've seen her when she was in the eighth grade being excited because there were girls from Texas A&M in a club meet. She said bring on the college girls."

The Consol girls broke Temple's hold on the district title two years ago, but last season Temple edged the Lady Tigers by winning the last event of the meet. Performances so far this season suggest Consol's girls should have a big edge in the team race.

Consol's boys have sometimes overwhelmed the field while winning the last five district meets, but Goodwyn expects to be in a tight race with Belton.

"Even some of the juniors and seniors on this team know the last four district titles kind of belong to that group of guys we had the last four years," Goodwyn said. "If we win this one, it's theirs, and that's exciting."

Bryan's boys finished third at last year's meet, while the Lady Vikings were fifth. Bryan's lineup includes defending district champions in Melissa Williams (50, 100 freestyles) and Cody Smith (100 backstroke).

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NOTES -- Miller said she's been competitive as long as she can remember, determined to win even in Monopoly games with her family. She likes to compete against her friends to see who can make the best grades, or earn the highest score on a test. ... Miller is active in the Central Baptist Church youth group and started learning to play guitar last year. She can play several songs by Taylor Swift, her favorite performer. ... Miller's penchant for breaking records earned her a special place on the Top Ten list adorning T-shirts designed by her teammates: "You know you're a Lady Tiger if ... you don't get surprised if Robyn breaks another record."

SWIMMING & DIVING

What: District 12-5A meet

When: 6:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Texas A&M Student Rec Center Natatorium

Tickets: All-session $8 adults, $5 students; single session $5 adults, $3 students

Defending champions: Consol boys, Temple girls

Next: Top six finishers advance to regionals