When the school bus, carrying their belongings, including uniforms and equipment, was broken into before their regional meet Thursday, they were not deterred. Instead, the Canyon Lake High School girls swim team and coaches rallied, found new gear and competed, even breaking two school records.
“We’ve talked to our students all year about fighting through every obstacle and performing through adversity,” says Kimberly Moses, one of the team’s coaches. “That is exactly what they did. Our ladies walked into the natatorium early in the morning as athletes and walked out late in the evening as champions.”
The six swimmers and two coaches began the day early in the morning at the Josh Davis Natatorium and Bill Walker Pool in San Antonio for the 5A Region VII meet. They competed and earned spots in the finals in all four events which would take place later in the day. With some time to spend before the finals, they took a break from the pool for lunch. Locking up the bus in the parking lot of the restaurant, they enjoyed some time together only to return to their bus and find a window smashed and all of their belongings taken.
They immediately reached out to the district and police to let them know what had happened, and before they knew it, they had new swim equipment, a new bus and were at the natatorium for warmup and competition at 4 p.m. It never crossed their minds to just go home.
“After replacing six new swimsuits, six pairs of goggles and six swim caps, these ladies competed like never before,” says Moses. “We couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments in and out of the pool this season. Though the bus was empty, our hearts are very full.”
In the 100-yard breaststroke, Caleigh Krystyniak, 10th grade, swam a 1:18.12, breaking the school record of 1:18.68, set in 2012.
In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the team of Danielle Carty, 12th grade; Shelby Palmer, 11th grade; Danielle Zulueta, 11th grade, and Krystyniak swam a 1:56.23, breaking the school record of 1:57.06, set in 2012 as well.
Katie Hettinger, 12th grade, and Estrella Meija, 11th grade, were alternates.
Way to go!
-Canyon Lake High School girls swim team members include from left, Katie Hettinger, Danielle Zulueta, Caleigh Krystyniak, Danielle Carty and Shleby Palmer.
-Members of the Canyon Lake High School girls 200-yard freestyle relay pictured from left Caleigh Krystyniak, Shleby Palmer, Danielle Carty and Danielle Zulueta.
-The Canyon Lake High School girls swim team members include from left Shelby Palmer, Danielle Carty, Caleigh Krystyniak, Danielle Zulueta, Katie Hettinger and Estrella Mejia.
