Standing on the edge of the starting blocks, waiting for the buzzer, junior Ashlyn Hernandez knows she has to win her event.
Hernandez dominates the water at every meet and is a big contributor to her team’s recent success and strong season.
They already beat Santa Fe Christian on March 9 and Westview on March 16.
Hernandez verbally committed to Washington State University in October.
“I chose WSU because all the girls on the team and coaches were really welcoming and inviting,” Hernandez said.
During CIF Finals last year, she recorded a time of 2:05.84 in the 200-meter individual medley, and 1:03.83 in the 100-meter breaststroke, taking second place. She also broke the school record freshman year in the 100 yard backstroke with a 1:03.00 time.
“Ashlyn is by far the best swimmer on the team, and she inspires a lot of us with her dedication and ability,” senior Anna Kim said.
In addition to being a strong competitor, she runs the swim and dive social media account.
Another secret to the team’s success is their strong ties.
“We bond throughout the season through Secret Swimmer exchanges and pasta parties. We all practice and compete with each other, so there’s lots of time where we’re able to get to know each other and have fun,” Kim said
Over the next few weeks, the team will face tough competition against San Marcos on Tuesday, April 4 at home, Mt. Carmel on April 6 at home, and RB on April 20 at home.