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Sports 19 Design by Anastasia O’Brien | JagWire SWIMMING TO As a new addition to the swim team, freshman Anthony Molinaro is already setting records SUCCESS

Freshman Anthony Molinaro is on a level of performance some don’t reach until their senior year, and he’s just getting started.In his first year, he broke the school record for the 50- yard freestyle, he placed eighth in the state in 50-yard freestyle and he was a member of the 200-yard freestyle re- lay team that took ninth place at state. “It feels great that I broke the re- cord so early,” Molinaro said. “This shows I have a lot of time for improve- ments.”

Despite his success, Molinaro is not immune to the stereotypical mistreat- ment of underclassmen athletes.

“As a freshman, everyone is giving you a hard time” Molinaro said. “I feel like I’m starting to fit in. I have got their respect and on their good side.” Senior Avery Lawson believes that Molinaro gets along with the team.

“As a teammate I think Anthony brings a good balance to the team,” Lawson said. “He knows when to have fun, but he also knows when to get fo- cused up.”

As well as swimming year round for the Aqua Dragonflies, Molinaro demonstrates his hardworking attitude when he had to fix his stroke due to an injury early in the school season.

“This season I have overcome a shoulder injury. I fixed this by chang- ing my stroke and putting less stress on ZACH SHRADER reporter/photographer

Freshman Anthony Molinaro swims freestyle during practice Thursday, Feb. 20. | Isabel Aerni

ANTHONY BRINGS A GOOD BALANCE TO THE TEAM. HE KNOWS WHEN TO HAVE FUN, BUT HE KNOWS WHEN TO GET FOCUSED UP.”

senior avery lawson

my front shoulder,” Molinaro said.

Head coach Daniel Dervin is very impressed with Molinaro as a swim- mer and leader.

“Anthony has improved in all events he’s swam in,” Dervin said. “He has an excellent work ethic, he doesn’t let older competitors intimidate him and he’s an excellent teammate.”

Molinaro is looking to break more records and earn an opportunity to swim in college.

“I’m hoping to break the 50-yard freestyle record again, the 100 butter- fly and the 100 freestyle. By my last year I’m hoping to get a scholarship to Texas, Missouri or Indiana,” Mo- linaro said.

Comparing freshman Anthony Molinaro’s results and college athletes’ results PROFESSIONALS VS. MOLINARO

College swimmer David Lambert has a time of 19.17 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle

Olympic swimmer Joseph Schooling has a time of 50.39 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly Freshman Anthony Molinaro has a time of 22.42 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle

Freshman Anthony Molinaro has a time of 55.7 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly

source: NCAA

ITRUNS IN THE FAMILY How wrestling brings the Keal family together

ZACH SHRADER reporter/photographer S ince they were kids, wrestling has been an integral part of twin seniors Zach and Aus- tin Keals’ lives. Both brothers spend hours at practices with their dad, head wrestling coach Travis Keal, who has strived to make his children better on and off the wrestling mat.

The competition between the brothers can help boost performance. However, according to Austin, they sometimes become unfocused on im- proving at wrestling.

“The strong competition between us makes me work harder. I feel we sort of feed off of each other. If one of us is doing good is carries onto the next. ” Austin said. “However, the competition can also cause us to get a little aggressive and focus on just beating each other and not getting better.” Zach says that the competition between him and Austin isn’t just on the wrestling mat; it is also one of the reasons both boys have experienced success inside and outside of the gym. “There is competition in everything we do,” Zach said. “I believe it makes us better because we never want to lose to each other in practice, in a tourna- ment, at home and even at school with tests and grades. I think that is one of the reasons we have become successful because for the last eighteen years. We have been trying to win against each other in all aspects of life.”

Not only do Zach and Austin prac- tice with each other every day, they also have their father as a head coach, which has benefits and issues of its own.

“Having my dad as a coach is very helpful,” Zach said. “He knows how to get me ready and make sure I am

“THERE IS A COMPETITION IN EVERYTHING WE DO. I BELIEVE IT MAKES US BETTER BECAUSE WE NEVER WANT TO LOSE TO EACH OTHER.”