Photos courtesy of CSK Photography @cskphoto
Celebrating our Seniors:
Isabela Hernandez
Isabela Hernandez- known as Bela, has been a Varsity athlete for Concord Swimming all four seasons as well as playing Water Polo. She came in Freshman year as a backstroker and by her sophomore year she specialized in the 500 Free. It was a pleasure to watch Bela learn how to pace her 500 with dramatic drops in her time, making the finals both her Sophomore and Junior years at DAL Championships. She was voted “most dedicated” and earned an “Athlete of the Month” her Sophomore year. As a Junior she received the “Coaches Award” and was named “Team Captain” this in both Swimming and Water Polo. Her goal this year was to qualify for NCS in the 500 Free and she was well on her way. In the only meet of our season she swam close to her personal best. Not only is she dedicated and hard working in the pool she is equally dedicated to her studies being a “Scholar Athlete” all four seasons. Bela is planning on going to Diablo Valley College and will be swimming for them in the Spring and is still considering Water Polo.
Enya Castenada
Enya competed as a Varsity athlete for Concord Swimming all four years. She was able to compete in all swim events, but her specialty was the 100 fly and 500 Free. She has been dedicated every year showing a strong work ethic and drastic improvement in her times. She made finals at DAL Championships all 3 seasons in the events she swam. Narrowly missing NCS as a Freshman and Sophomore she was voted “most improved” and earned an “Athlete of the Month”. Junior year she qualified and competed in the 500 Free at NCS and was voted our “most valuable “girl for the 2019 season. This year in the only meet of the season she made NCS consideration for the 100 Fly and was remarkably close to qualifying for the 500 Free. She excels out of the pool as well, being recognized as a “Scholar Athlete” all 4 seasons at Concord High. Enya is planning on attending San Jose State in the Fall and possibly continuing her swim career there.
Dylan McLacken
Dylan has competed for Concord Swimming his Freshman, Junior and Senior years. He has also been both a Wrestler and Water Polo player all four years at Concord High. He was named “Team Captain” for both sports his Senior year. When Dylan started as a Freshman, he did not know how to swim all four competitive strokes. Swimming is an extremely difficult sport to learn let alone be ready to compete after just 4 weeks of pre-season practice, but Dylan met this challenge head on. Even though swimming is not his number 1 choice of sport, Dylan applied the same discipline and hard work in the pool as he did on land. Dedicating himself to learning all the technical aspects of all four strokes legally as well as diving off a block and doing flip turns. He did learn all 4 strokes specializing in the sprint freestyles and breaststroke. He was always willing to swim where needed, earning a spot on the Varsity team this season. For the last four years Dylan has consistently worked hard in all 3 sports. As a Varsity Athlete and he earned the “White Block C”.
