Kaitlyn Garifi
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"Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Kaitlyn, a Junior at Saugus, says it's her friends and coaches that motivate her to come to practice everyday and to get up on the blocks to race her hardest. "It is a lot easier to be motivated when everyone around you is smiling and happy to be in the water. Having the coaches say 'good swim' after my race helps me stay motivated when I'm stressed and up on the blocks." When asked what the most important quality a swimmer should have, Kaitlyn said it was perseverance. She adds, "In swimming, it is important to practice hard all the time, even when we are tired. Swimming is all perseverance...trust me on this one. As a swimmer, you just have to learn to put the struggles behind you and keep trying." Having swam the 500 yard freestyle since her Freshman year, this event has become Kaitlyn's favorite. "I'm pretty much obsessed with it and always try swimming it differently to see what way works best for me." Besides swimming, Kaitlyn's favorite sport is baseball. "Football and basketball just aren't for me," she adds. "I love going to baseball games as well as watching them on TV, when I can." And, when she can, Kaitlyn also likes to spend her free time relaxing, spending time with close friends, going on a run, or just sitting on the couch watching a movie. As a Captain, Kaitlyn's goal for the team is to bring the team together and make it a family. To do this, she is planning many out-of-water activities. "This year, I get to plan more team building activities than we have had in previous years. I am excited and hope everyone enjoys them," she says. |
