Swimmings Noah Hernandez
Niko Ujueta
n the sport’s world at PPCHS, winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. Senior Noah Hernandez of the PPCHS boys swimming team knows everything he needs to win, and then some. As a member of the team since the start of freshman year, Hernandez has looked back on his high school year (which still has some ways to go) with pride. Hernandez competes in the 50 meter and 100 meter fly along with the 200 meter relay. However he doesn’t just compete, he triumphs in these races as the senior captain has been placing in the top three in each and every one of his races so far this season. As a captain, Hernandez truly takes his job seriously in being a leader and motivator. “I think about how I was an underclassman and I try to help the current underclassmen through practice and the competitions because it’s not easy to get up and race next to athletes that have been doing this for several more years,” he stated. The bond these Jaguars have is absolutely unbreakable. Hernandez and the rest of the team expects to compete in regionals and have several individuals qualify for states. Hernandez mentioned he wants to go out with a bang and if he stays true to himself and his teammates, winning will be on its way, once again.
s Senior Nikolas Ujueta heads into his fourth and final year of competing for the PPCHS Boys Swimming Team, he’ll be hoping to make his exit from Charter athletics a grand one. As Ujueta has been swimming competitively for more than five years, he has grown much as a swimmer, both physically and mentally, and with years of hard work he has risen up to a level of extremely remarkable skill. “Practicing technique is the most important part of training,” said Ujueta. “Without a good technique and form, you’ll never get the results you want.” Ujueta’s best career swim times are the 100 meter butterfly stroke in 57 seconds, 100 meter freestyle in 53 seconds, 50 meter freestyle in 24 seconds, and 200 meter freestyle in 117 seconds. On October 18th’s BCAA (Broward County Athletic Association) Swimming Championship at Plantation Aquatic Complex, Ujueta came eighth in the entire county individually and PPCHS as a whole came fourth in Broward for boys. Ujueta’s biggest goal this season is to make it to the state competition for the 200 meter relay. “I really hope that the guys team can win districts and make it to states this year because we’ve never been able to do anything like it before,” said Ujueta. “I’m confident that we’re capable of it this year though.”
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e dives into the water, strok kicking his feet, trying to beat the he finally gets to the other end of steps out of the pool. He looks cheering. The score shows that h podium, he receives his gold med For sophomore Juan Lucas com a dream true. Last year, he was a proved that he was one of the top he is back to bring the team farth break records and lead the swim t For six years, since he was in 4th He was inspired after his friend k and ever since that day, Lucas was of school, he is currently joined South Florida Atlantic Club. “I’m glad I saw my friend swimm come a better person and I hope t with swimming. Maybe compete Lucas. Hernandez’s main events are the titions. At the BCAA meet, Lucas a record of 1:49 and in the 100-ya know where he will pursue his ath some colleges in mind.