Canyons Aquatic Club athletes make USA Swimming Scholastic All America Team
Seven Canyons Aquatic Club swimmers have been awarded the USA Swimming Scholastic All America Team recognition, an accomplishment that recognizes athletes for their excellence in both swimming and in the classroom.
To be recognized for this team, students must have kept a 3.5 GPA in addition to meeting the 2019 Winter Junior National time standards in the pool.
“These athletes are consistent and highly self-motivated. They rarely miss practice and they consistently work hard,” said Kevin Nielsen, head coach of Canyons Aquatic Club. “They are aware of their goals and they constantly work towards them in and out of the pool.”
The seven athletes awarded this recognition include Riley Botton, Kyle Brill, Maxine Catig, Ike Harms, Charlie Morici, Reagan Nibarger and Julia Unas.
“Swimmers have morning practice, then they go out to school, sprint out of their last class to get in their car and go to their second practice, and then start their homework at dinner time,” said Nibarger, a student at West Ranch High School. “When I was younger, it seemed weird that people weren’t doing what I was doing, but it helped me to understand that my goals were much bigger than other kids at the time and reminded me to keep working hard at school and swim.”
She will be continuing her swim career at UC Santa Barbara next fall.
With seven swimmers making this team, Canyons Aquatic Club was tied for fourth with the most All American team members in the western zone, and second most in California.