Sophomore Jaya Veerapen may not be diving into the pool at tomorrow’s dual meet against Land O’ Lakes High School, but that doesn’t mean her excitement is any less. As a proud member of Sunlake’s Swim and Dive team, she is looking forward to cheering her teammates on from the sidelines and contributing her energy to the team’s spirit.  

“I feel very excited to support my team, I know that they’ve been doing really well and they’re going to crush it,” Veerapen said.  

Jaya swims freestyle most often, but she has her eyes on a new challenge. “I would like to swim butterfly in a future meet,” she explained. “I think it will push me out of my comfort zone and help me grow as a swimmer.” Her favorite events that she hopes to compete in one day are the 200 free relay and the butterfly leg of the 200-medley relay.  

When asked what first drew her to swimming, Veerapen admitted it wasn’t something that came naturally. “Honestly, I wasn’t a very good swimmer when I was younger,” she said with a laugh. “But that’s exactly why I joined the team—I wanted to improve my skills and be a part of something bigger than myself. The team gave me that opportunity.”  

Through her time on the team, she’s discovered that swimming is about much more than speed or endurance. “Being part of the swim team has taught me so many life lessons,” she said. “Time management, dedication, what it means to work as a team, and even how to push through tough moments when I feel like giving up.”  

Though Wednesday she’ll be cheering from the deck, Jaya Veerapen is already looking ahead, ready to dive into new strokes, new races, and new challenges, with her team right beside her.