One summer when I was little, my dad put me on a recreational swim team to turn me into a better surfer. Turns out, I was pretty good at swimming!

Fast forward to one of my favorite all-time moments of my swimming career, the day I was fast enough to make the Olympic Trials cut time. By three one-HUNDREDTHS of a second! I remember finishing the race and hearing my dad scream. That’s when I knew all the hard work had paid off. With continued effort and growth, I hope to make the U.S. Olympic team in 2024.

The most rewarding part about being a Warrior athlete is being able to represent Valley Christian with honor and pride and to compete to bring excellence to our school. Here I’ve learned that you need to enjoy the present and savor every moment with your teammates; they won’t always be there with you to cheer on the pool deck, to grind through grueling practices, or to celebrate CCS and State Championships.