Swim Season Wraps Up Wonderfully

Photo by Kelly Orozco Hernandez | Swim Seniors pose together during their Senior Night

The John F. Kennedy High School Swim Team has had a wonderful season leading up to their Senior Night on April 17. The closeness within the team is helping the swimmers have a fun and successful season.

“My favorite thing about being on the team is the sense of community it gives me,” commented team captain Aurora O’Neil (12). “I love looking out for others and helping them succeed!”

O’Neil has been on the team for all four years that she has been at Kennedy and the main event that she participates in is the 50 yard freestyle. This is her first year as captain and she has been enjoying being in a position where she can help increase team morale.

“As captain I hope to inspire my underclassmen and lift them all to success,” mentioned O’Neil. “I love boosting my teammates' confidence and helping them correct technique.”

The interconnectivity between the team is making the experience more fun for the athletes.

“My favorite part about being on the swim team would probably be the sense of community between the team,” said Alfonso Lopez-Muniz (9) who competes in the 100 yard breaststroke and 200 yard and 50 yard freestyle.

“At the meets everybody gets along and it's just a very wholesome and positive space.” On top of everyone in the team having a great bond with one another, the team is also having a super successful season. “So far we’ve had a great season, [and] a lot more people have joined the team since last year so it’s been great,” O’Neil said.

Amélie Pons (12) also commented, “We’re lucky to have a pretty solid team this year.” Pons swims the 200 and 500 yard freestyle and has been on the team for three years. The team had its annual Senior Night on Friday April 17 during their meet at Newark Memorial High School. There will be two more meets after Senior Night before the swimmers go off to compete at the Mission Valley Athletic League, also known as MVALs, which will mark the end of the senior’s last season swimming for Kennedy.

“I’m so glad I stuck with swim all 4 years of high school,” O’Neil concluded. “It has helped me sharpen my leadership skills and boosted my confidence as well.”

Lopez-Muniz added, “For the rest of the season I hope that we’re able to keep the same pace that we’re going and get better and for the future of the team.”

Although the seniors are leaving to go off to their next adventures, they have high hopes for the future of the Kennedy swim team.

“I hope that those who join swim continue to swim for the rest of their high school careers,” Pons mentioned. “It’s really important to maintain that support.”