At just 7 years old, Kaitlin Flewelling (12) started club swimming in order to learn water safety. Once Flewelling started swim, she never quit. A major reason she stuck with it was her teammates.
Although Flewelling has been swimming for around ten years, she still faces challenges ranging from injuries to mental hardships.
“The most challenging aspect of swim is the mental side,” Flewelling said. “You’re up at 5 in the morning, and you don’t leave the school until about 6 in the afternoon, so you don’t really see any daylight, and I’ve also struggled with some injuries, but my teammates have always been there to help me through it.”
Pushing past these challenges, Flewelling has been able to make many memories, her favorite being when her team TP-ed the boys’ house as per tradition before sectionals.
“I would have to say that my favorite memory is when we go, and we TP the boys’ houses every year before their sectional finals. Pretty much every teepee night that I’ve been a part of has been super fun and always creates good memories,” Flewelling said.
Another memory Flewelling has been able to make with her teammates this year would be when they dyed their hair.
“This year we dyed our hair. We had a few of us who have wanted to since freshman year, but we just hadn’t had the courage to actually do it,” Flewelling said. “So this year we finally said, okay, it’s our senior year, we’re going to do it. And I hope it sticks as a tradition, but we see a bunch of the girls like it, so maybe it will continue.”
Through all of the ups and downs Flewelling has faced in swim, she always had her parents by her side.
“My parents are my biggest inspiration because they’ve always supported me, no matter what,” Flewelling said. “They never pushed me to always get the best times, instead they always accepted me as I was in this sport and helped me with that. So definitely my parents.”
In all, Flewelling has been swimming since she started when she was 7 years old, sticking with the sport because of her teammates leading her to make many new memories. Flewelling will also be continuing swimming and diving at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, majoring in business with a minor in entrepreneurship, with plans to open a bakery when she gets older.
