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Standout swimmer McKenna Stevulak has proved to be too much for the competition early on in the Las Positas College swim season.
Recently at the Sacramento City swim invite, Stevulak swam a commanding 200 backstroke, finishing nearly half a pool-length ahead of the competition.
“I finished and people were near halfway,” Stevulak said. “I was like, oh OK.”
Standing nearly six feet tall, the freshman sensation has only just tapped into her potential, according to head coach Jason Craighead.
“She is past the point where things are going to come naturally to her physically,” said Craighead. “She is going to have to put in more work than she’s used to.”
Swimming since the age of four, Stevulak says she has been around the pool all her life.
“All of my sisters swam and my mom was a pool manager, so I was kind of raised in it,” Stevulak said.
Dedicating her summers to competitive swimming, Stevulak eventually swam for Livermore High School.
Adjusting to the new coaching techniques and workout routines at LPC has been the biggest change for the first year swimmer.
“The practices were different in high school because we wouldn’t always do weights,” said Stevulak. “ It’s nice to have a routine, and the coaching is a lot better.”
The freshman has another year as a Hawk, then possibly a swimming scholarship to a four-year.
“I just love it, and I think it can help me get into a better college, so that’s a plus,” Stevulak said.
After the dazzling performance in Sacramento, schools are no doubt going to inquire.
Coach Craighead only expects more to come from his star swimmer.
“She’s going to get a lot faster,” he said.
The next swim meet will be on March 22 at DeAnza Community College.
