Shockwave pair qualify for Zone Championships
Jessica Yan and Evan Sabanadzovic are examples of what hard work and determination can accomplish.
The two Shockwave Aquatic Swim Team members have qualified and will participate in the USA Age Group Zone Championships next week in Tupelo.
“I’m really proud of them,” Shockwave coach Tiger Christian said of Yan and Sabanadzovic. ”Out of 75 kids we had active in the summer, Evan and Jessica did more practices than any of them. When you do that, it pays off in the end. They both did very well.”
At the state meet recently, Sabanadzovic placed first in the 100 breaststroke and first in the 200 breaststroke, while Yan was sixth in the 100 breaststroke and sixth in the 200 breaststroke. Along with Kyler Reeves, Yan was on the 200 medley relay that broke the state record.
Yan has been with Shockwave since she was 8-years-old and said the training that she has received over the years has gotten her to this point.
“I’ve just been improving my technique and coming to every practice as I can and working hard every day,” Yan said.
It has been important to Yan to follow in her brother David’s footsteps and has been an inspiration for her.
“He came to work every day and swam for hours and hours,” Jessica said.
Sabanadzovic’s path to the Zone Championships was similar to Yan’s.
He made sure to attend every morning and afternoon practice and gave credit to Christian for his development.
“(Christian) has improved me with my tech-
nique and all of my strokes,” Sabanadzovic said. “We have been working on specific things like saving your energy for longer swims.
“Our first coach left us and we were left without a coach. We were out of shape because we haven’t swam for a long time. He helped us regain our speed.”
Sabanadzovic was proud of the gold medals he received at the state meet.
In other Shockwave results at state, Micah Foster was 20th in the 50 freestyle, Izak Hanson was 21st in the 50 freestyle, Colin Kennedy was fourth in the 200 breaststroke and fifth in 100 breaststroke, Cate Nobles was 21st in 100 freestyle and 20th in 50 freestyle, Reeves was fourth in the 100 backstroke and fourth in 200 backstroke, Ela Sabanadzovic was sixth in the 200 medley relay, Sam Vardaman was 11th in the 100 backstroke and 13th in the 50 backstroke, and Andrew Yu was 11th in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 200 breaststroke.