Swimmer Profiles: Kicking Off the Wall and the Season

Lily Wu and Ella Warden|December 19, 2021

Left to right: freshman Sarah Parker, junior Kathy Jia, freshman Annie Jia and senior Vivi Vergara.

As winter sports seasons kick off, many swimmers on the girls team, captained by seniors Sara Bozzomo, Hannah Parker, Vivi Vergara and Olivia Wilson, and the boys team, captained by seniors Zachary Hamme and Dylan Mignogna and junior David Ji, have dove right into competition and resurfaced with accolades. Learn more about them here.

Senior and co-captain Hannah Parker swam in the Arena Holiday classic and achieved a personal best in the 100 meter butterfly, at one minute and three seconds.

Q: Why do you swim?

A: It’s fun. My sister and I have been doing it for a long time. It’s a family thing.

Q: What’s your go-to snack before a meet?

A: Chocolate chip Chewy granola bars and animal crackers.

Q: What’s your favorite song to listen to before a meet?

A: I don’t really listen to music during meets, but I’d pick “The Phoenix” by Fall Out Boy or “Lucky Strike” by Maroon Five.

Q: What’s your favorite stroke?

A: I like freestyle, especially the 500 meter.

Q: What inspires you to keep swimming?

A: Seeing myself and everyone around me succeed. It inspires me to keep working hard for myself and the team.

Q: What’s your goal for this season?

A: My goal is to make it back to states and break five minutes in the 500 meter. A goal I have for the girls team is to be state champs this year.

Q: What’s a fun fact about you?

A: I write a quote of the day at every practice.

Senior and girls team co-captain Vivi Vergara swam in finals in all four of her events at the Arena Holiday classic: the 50 meter freestyle, 100 meter freestyle, 200 meter freestyle and 100 meter butterfly.

Q: Why do you swim?

A: Character development. You really learn time management, discipline, accountability, as well as teamwork and leadership, how to be a captain. Those qualities have taught me to be successful and fostered me and my love for sport.

Q: What’s your go-to snack before a meet?

A: A banana.

Q: What’s your favorite song to listen to before a meet?

A: I don’t have one. I’ll listen to a podcast instead.

Q: What’s your favorite stroke?

A: Freestyle.

Q: What inspires you to keep swimming?

A: Developing my character through swimming.

Q: What’s your goal for this season?

A: I want to go under one minute and 50 seconds for my 200 meter freestyle. I also think that our girls team has a lot of potential to win states.

Q: What’s a fun fact about you?

A: I can juggle.

Junior David Ji swam personal bests in five invites at the Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP) invite. He made the A final in the 100 meter and 200 meter breaststroke.

Q: Why do you swim?

A: I swim because I enjoy the sport, the people that I meet within the sport and all the life lessons that swimming teaches.

Q: What’s your go-to snack before a meet?

A: Mint chocolate Clif bar.

Q: What’s your favorite song to listen to before a meet?

A: “I Don’t Like” by Chief Keef.

Q: What’s your favorite stroke?

A: Breaststroke.

Q: What inspires you to keep swimming?

A: My teammates and coaches.

Q: What’s your goal for this season?

A: To finish in the top three in the 100 meter breaststroke at the state championship.

Q: What’s a fun fact about you?

A: My elbows are double jointed.

Junior Kathy Jia swam in the East Speedo Winter Junior Championships, the fastest swim meet for swimmers age 18 and under. Kathy swam personal bests in all three of her events and placed 16th in the 100 meter breaststroke.

Q: Why do you swim?

A: Well, I’ve been swimming since I was four with my sister (she was 2!) to not drown if the situation does arise. I’ve stuck with it since I have this strong desire to just improve, and racing is always something to look forward to.

Q: Go-to snack before a meet?

A: Pre-race, a banana. Pre-meet, just some sort of carbs: that could be oatmeal, rice, bagels, or pasta. The closest one available is the one I go for (changed up and never the same!)

Q: Favorite song to listen to before a meet?

A: Don’t have one. For swim, I like to focus as much as possible.

Q: Favorite stroke?

A: Breaststroke.

Q: What inspires you to keep swimming?

A: My sister. She’s fast (her 100 meter butterfly ranks top 35 of all time in the 13-14 age group) and I don’t want to fall too behind. Also, swimming is fun. Simple.

Q: Do you have a goal for the upcoming season?

A: I’d like to drop 2-3 seconds in most of my races. Under 2.00 in the 200 IM (Individual Medley).

Q: What’s a fun fact about you?

A: I can play three instruments: one more proficiently than the others, but three anyhow.

Freshman Annie Jia swam in the East Speedo Winter Junior Championships and placed ninth in the 100 meter butterfly. This ranks her as the 35th fastest 14 and under of all time in US swimming.

Q: Why do you swim?

A: I like swimming and going to meets to meet different swimmers.

Q: What’s your go-to snack before a meet?

A: Pretzel chips.

Q: What’s your favorite song to listen to before a meet?

A: “Born for This” by The Score.

Q: What’s your favorite stroke?

A: Butterfly.

Q: What inspires you to keep swimming?

A: My sister inspires me to be a better swimmer.

Q: What’s your goal for this season?

A: I want to get first place as a team at states.

Q: What’s a fun fact about you?

A: I have been swimming for a team for nine years.

Freshman Sarah Parker swam in the Arena Holiday classic and achieved personal bests in all six of her events. She placed first in the 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter freestyle, third in the 100 meter butterfly and fourth in the 200 meter freestyle in the 14 and under age group.