[dropcap size=small]W[/dropcap]ith the familiar words of, “Take your mark,” stated by the officials before every race, senior Abigail Springer stood up on the block, as she prepared to dive into the pool the second the gunshot hit her ears. As she prepared for the jump, the buzzer rang and she launched herself into the water. Stroke after stroke, kick after kick, she swam to the wall. She flipped and launched off the wall, heading off to her next lap. She took a breath and kept going, still taking strokes and still kicking.
Being a four year varsity s
wimmer, Springer is well known on her team for a reason. She has been a top swimmer for 10 years, and has achieved a multitude of awards during that time. She has lead the Bearcats through dozens of meets, and went to CIF and Junior Olympics.
Her support for her teammates is also something that is shown through her leadership. She is often seen cheering on her teammates as they swim, yelling “Go! Go! Go!”
“I try to encourage my teammates by cheering for them and when I can I like to lap count for others on the 500m swim,” Springer said.
Her leadership also earned Springer the Lions Club award in 2019 from the varsity swim team. Along with being a supportive teammate, she is also a supportive community member. Springer worked as a child swim teacher for three years, teaching and inspiring children to pursue swimming in the future.
Ever since her junior year, Springer has also been a certified lifeguard, working at various pools.
“I taught little kids how to swim through the Swim America program,” she said, “I also lifeguard to keep the pool a safe environment.”
Springer has been under the wing of her coach Michael Sauret for all four of her high school years. Her leadership has shown from both her coach and her entire team.
“She brings silent leadership and determination,” Sauret stated, “a work ethic that everyone wants to work up to.”
Springer has also stated how much Sauret has supported her over the years. “Coach Sauret has been really supportive and a fun and easygoing coach. It’s a nice balance of focus, effort, and team bonding that provides a good environment to grow,” she said.
She specializes in all types of strokes, and loves to do the events that are the most difficult. “I tend to favor the 100/200 meter backstroke or the longer distances such as the 500 freestyle,” stated Springer. She holds a time of 1:00.81 for her 100y backstroke, and a time of 2:18.61 for her 200 IM swim. To compliment her individual times, Springer, along with three other teammates, set a school record for the 200 medley relay, with a final time of 1:53.09.
Springer not only excels in athletics, but also academics. She is ranked as 5th out of 438 students in the senior class. She is currently enrolled in four AP classes, having previously taken three more her Junior year. Her GPA stands at 4.7. She has committed to the University of Redlands to swim, and plans to show off her academics and athletics there where she plans to major in biology.
“A lot of my club teammates have inspired me as well as my parents,” Springer said. “They’ve always pushed me to do my best and it has been fun racing in practice.”
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