Bella Kuzbek Swims to a State Title

The senior swimmer Bella Kuzbek achieved something that has never happened at Manitou Springs High School. Kuzbek won the Class 3A championship in the 100-yard breaststroke on March 16th, 2021 with a time of 1:07:36.

Kuzbek was just four years old when she started to swim. Her first official swim team was with the local Valley Swim Club when she was eight. When she began middle school, Kuzbek joined an allyear competitive swim team called the Colorado Torpedoes (CT) to stay in shape over the winter months. During her high school years she decided to stop swimming with Valley Swim Club and only swam with the CT and the high school swim program. In March of 2020, Kuzbek decided to join an even more competitive swim team with Pikes Peak Athletics. With all of this background in swimming, Kuzbek has gained lots of talent and skill that helped her win the Class 3A Championship.

Like many other activities, the 2020/2021 swim season looked a lot different this

year due to COVID regulations, but Kuzbek and her team didn’t let that get in the way of having an incredible season. “Throughout the season everyone had amazing energy and continued to work their hardest, despite COVID,” says Kuzbek, “All the girls are so close so it just felt like one big family, everyone was so supportive and kind”. When she joined the high school swim team for the first time, Kuzbek described it as exciting because she had only swam with club teams and never experienced this type of environment before. Each year she would improve and grow alongside her teammates.

At the state competition, Kuzbek reflected on her past four years in high school, as well her lifetime of swim competitions. Kuzbek realized how far she has come and how she can go even further. Knowing all the hard work she has put into swimming over the past ten years, she believed that she could win. Before the competition, Kuzbek stayed focused but didn’t

let the nerves get to her. After the race, when she came to the realization of her win she explained the feeling of being extremely proud knowing that every year, every team, every practice, and every competition paid off. With all of this said, she was extremely proud of herself for the dedication she has had for this sport over the years. Kuzbek was able to achieve this title with her family, coaches, and closest friends all there to celebrate her incredible

accomplishment.

Ever since 6th grade Kuzbek started to take the sport seriously and during her junior year she decided she wanted to continue swimming after high school. Kuzbek realized how much this sport meant to her and she wasn’t ready to give it up just yet. At the beginning of the second semester of her senior year, Kuzbek committed to swim with Roger Williams University in Rhode Island to swim

for their team. This is a huge step for her swimming career and an incredible opportunity to improve her skills.

Throughout high school and previous experience, Kuzbek has gained so much knowledge about swimming and being on a team. Although Kuzbek won a state title in an individual race, she could have never done so without the wonderful people that have supported her all her

life. Kuzbek has brought a new sense of pride and celebration to a year marked by change and disruption, and her legacy will remain in MSHS. “Don’t compare yourself to the swimmers who’ve been swimming for years, just focus on you and what you need to work on, and try to enjoy the team atmosphere!” says Kuzbek, giving advice for future swimmers to come.