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Knowing she has to go fast, she pushes her body forward reaching the wall. With one last stroke, she propels herself forward touching the wall. With a personal time of 38.47, her multi-style relay team is off to breaking the school record.
Having twelve years of competitive swimming experience, Kaybrie Kelso holds two school relay records, the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle, on the NS swim team with the desire of breaking the 100 breaststroke.
“Since middle school when I found out the high school had records put up I always wanted the breaststroke,” Kelso said. “I’ve always done breaststroke, I’m a breastroker and I want that breaststroke record.”
With the pressure to break the record, Kelso has to prepare herself before each meet.
“Everyones worries for their own meets,” Kelso said, “everyone will talk negatively and I just have to sit alone and think… I tell myself what I want to focus on in that event. I want to focus on a personal record and not just a win because when I’m focused on something the win will just come.”
With the dedication to break the breaststroke record, Kelso is determined to work hard at every practice.
“Kaybrie shows up pretty much every day no matter how she is feeling,” head coach Tiffany Clyde said. “She will give it a hundred percent even when she’s not feeling like it, she still gets in the water and works really hard anyway.”
Kelso’s dedication is not only seen by her coach but by her teammates as well.
“She’s willing to work hard and put in the effort to become better,” sophomore Chesney Howard said.
Although Kelso is a hard worker it can still be very challenging.
“Some Days it’s hard where I dread not wanting to go at all,” Kelso said. “Some days I just want to stay home because I’m exhausted and very sore but I know it will pay off over time.”
Any challenges that occur during practices don’t stop Kelso from doing what she can.
“Even if I get into the pool late I make sure I finish the full workout,” Kelso said. “If I’m confused on what to do on a set I’ll make sure to get help on that set. Even if I have to miss a bit of practice, I’ll do a work out at home to make up for it.”
Clyde continues to give Kelso advice to improve her strengths in swimming.
“We get to a point where I have to remind Kaybree to not overthink things,” Clyde said, “and to trust in her ability and trust in her instincts and just go.”
Kelso continues to be a driven and committed athlete in the swim team.
“She has been working really hard on trying to break the school record in the 100 breaststroke,” Clyde said. “She hasn’t done it yet but she has gotten really close.”
Kelso has worked hard this season and put in all her hard effort to reach her goals.“I can’t think of anyone who has been more consistent at a time and set in practice,” Clyde said. “She is just one of the ones that is always there no matter what, she shows up and she puts in the hard work and I think it’s pretty remarkable … I am so incredibly proud of her.”
Kelso is going to state swim today and tomorrow with the hopes of finally breaking that 100 breaststroke.
Hours upon hours, years upon years of practicing time, and match time, invested into one sport. This dedication and commitment to show up every day is something that has been a regular occurrence in athlete of the month, senior Krew King.
He has 150 varsity wins under his belt and a record of 46-2 this season.
“Most kids don’t even get to 100, as far as mat time, and so to get to 150, he’s in very, very rare company, as far as statistically, nationally,” said wrestling coach Spencer Dyches.“He’s just been a pleasure to coach.”
Even with this big achievement, King looks towards the future as he prepares for the state championship. All those wins are just a small stepping stone, leading him in the right direction to the upcoming competitions.
“I think it’s pretty cool, but it’s something that’s cool that I’ve been able to do, but I just gotta always remember, that’s not the end goal, the goal is not to get 150 wins, the goal is to take state,” King said.
Wrestling has always been a part of his life, whether in-season or off-season practices. Beginning in first grade King realized that wrestling was a lot of hard work, and eventually told his dad he didn’t want to continue with it. However, his father signed him up again in fifth grade. Looking back on it now, King is grateful that he was able to start so early.
“It’s finally starting to pay off,” King said. “I say I put a lot of work into wrestling, lots of blood, sweat and tears into it.”
From the start King expressed that confidence had always been an issue, he was able to really begin to change his mindset at the end of his junior year season, as he came out with a 40-3 overall record.
His change in confidence was helpful as it made the sport more enjoyable for him.
“Something kinda felt like it clicked, and realizing that I’m just as good as anyone else out there,” King said. “My desire just to not lose, but that I want to win, that no matter what happens, I’m gonna come out with the win.”
The pressure to succeed and help others in wrestling is something King has learned to grow and love. Motivation from his friends and family has helped push him to where he is today.
“Krew’s wrestling IQ is very high,” Dyches said. “That’s another thing that really has always been one of his biggest attributes, but he didn’t always put that together because maybe that lack of confidence of being in that situation in these high-pressure matches, and now he’s been there, the spotlight’s not too big. He uses his technique very well and he stays cool and composed.”
Stepping into leadership roles during duels and after practices has been notable to many of his coaches and teammates.
“Krew is a good teammate, he’s always the hardest one working in the room, and he’s humble, he’s not a cocky guy,” junior wrestler Hagen Nielson said. “He always wants to help and make everybody better.”
King is known in the wrestling room for leading by example and less by vocal instruction. This includes teaching teammates new moves before, after and during practice. In his coach’s eyes, he is never above anyone, even though he’s a senior.
“He is the most patient and understanding young man,” Dyches said. “I mean what we ask him to do as far as leadership rule is concerned, he just takes it, not very vocal but he takes it very personal, and he always wants to do what’s right. That’s the biggest thing about Krew is he always looks to uplift other people around him, working with other athletes that maybe don’t have as much experience.”
Wrestling has taught King many life lessons including that the sport is more about mental strength than physical, it requires you to think on the spot, and want it more than your competitor.
“Well our coaches say it is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical because obviously you have to be using your body and strength out there, but in the tight situations, when you know, you’re down by a point, and there’s 30 seconds left, whoever wants it more is gonna win,” King said. “I’ve done hard things before, so I can do them again.”
