Name: Jayla Williams

Grade: 12

Sport: Girls swim and dive

How long have you been swimming for?

“This is my second year swimming. [I] started junior year and [am] currently in season right now.”

Why do you swim?

“I swim for the team. It’s very rare to find a large group of girls you can bond so well with and create such funny and memorable moments with. Without them, it would so hard to continue the very challenging sport.”

What stroke do you swim?

“Freestyle and Butterfly. Mostly the 200-,100-, and 50-yard Freestyle.”

What has been the biggest inspiration in your swimming career?

“All the girls have motivated me in their own way. But one person that has pushed me is Maggie Zorn. She is not just a great swimmer but an amazing friend and teammate and is always a ray of sunshine in my life.”

What is your personal goal for this season?

“I want to get a 28 seconds in the 50-yard Freestyle or get my 100-yard Freestyle below 1:05 because right now I keep getting my last year conference time which is 1:08. It’s hard to drop time but hopefully I’ll be able to.”

What is a quote that inspires you?

“One quote that inspires me is ‘Be someone’s reason to smile.’ That quote means a lot to me because I believe the ability to make others laugh or realize their true beauty is the best characteristic a person can have.”

What is the best part about swimming?

“Definitely the girls and the food. No questions about it.”