Dedication and hard work has paid off for two Lakewood swimmers.
Sophomore Noah Harasz, above, practices the backstrokeswith his swim team, St. Pete Aquatics, on March 16. Harasz plans on going to college for engineering and will attempt to swim throughout college. “I don’t know, it might be hard to do swimming and college,” said Harasz .-- NIQUERIA HARRIS | SNN
By CLARISSA BRADFIELD AND TAMARRA WILLIAMS
SNN Staff Writers
While other high school students are at the beach or at the mall, swimmers Rebecca Halfast and Noah Harasz are both training, on average, six days a week for three hours each day, and both compete year round.
Halfast, a junior, started swimming when she was 8 years old and started swimming competitively her freshman year at Lakewood High School. Harasz, a sophomore, started swimming when he was 6 and has been swimming competitively on and off since then, as well as doing gymnastics. Their dedication has paid off; both swimmers are district and regional champs.
“I want to do it because I have a passion for it,” said Halfast.
She said she is more concerned with doing what she loves them being nationally ranked, although her love for swimming has taken her far. She was district and regional champ during this year’s high school season in the 100 backstroke with a time of 59.46 seconds - and she is still improving, with a current time of 58.46.
“Rebecca works hard at everything she does. …She has high standards and wants to do well,” said Lakewood swim coach James Kostka.
Halfast said she wants to go to Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, a division two school to swim at the NCAA level.
Halfast’s biggest accomplishment since being on the swim team is having the 100 backstroke record for Lakewood. She said she loves swimming for her school and loves her team, even though she says most people swim just to socialize.
On Feb. 25-28, Halfast and Harasz had Senior Champs in Orlando at the YMCA Aquatic Center. It was their biggest swim meet recently and the biggest one they’ll have for a while. Both made it into finals and dropped time in the majority of their events.
Harasz’ biggest accomplishment is a 55.00 second 100 backstroke. He’s working toward becoming state champ in backstroke by next year.
Harasz says he swims because “it’s the sport I hate the least. … It’s become a really big part of my life.” He doesn’t plan on swimming in college unless he gets a swimming scholarship.
As advice to swimmers who want to become better Halfast would ask how bad they wanted it. Are they really doing all they can at practice?
“Focus on yourself and you’ll improve so much,” she said.
Harasz would tell students “if you really, really want it, train hard and set your mind to it.”
