Varsity girls’ swim team member, Mia Bullock ’16 impressed the entire Staples community as she has broken three swimming school record including the 100 meter butterfly race,100 meter breaststroke race, and 200 meter individual medley (IM), all of which have helped lead the swim team to a very successful season.
The first record Mia broke, the 100 meter butterfly, was held for 21 years by Meredeth Wecker until Bullock beat it in the Staples meter pool during the swim team’s meet against Ridgefield this season on Sept 18. Bullock explained that at first she did not realize her accomplishment until family and friends began congratulating her on the achievement.
“Once I realized that I broke the records, I was in awe and was so incredibly happy to have broken a record being only a sophomore,” Bullock said.
However, in addition to this record, on Oct 16, Bullock succeed in beating two more recording in the girls’ swim team’s meet against Darien: 100 meter breaststroke race and 200 meter IM. While she is proud of all three records she has beaten here at Staples, Bullock said that when she beat the time for the 100 meter breaststroke, she was overjoyed because that is her main stroke.
Head Coach Michael Laux said that when he realized that Bullock had beaten these school records, he was amazed and pleased, but her hard work in previous practices showed she could do it.
“Mia really contributes to the team by working hard at practice, setting an example for the girls, and by swimming great at meets,” Laux said.
Captain Verity Abel agrees with Laux that Bullock sets an example for others on the team because in both meets where Bullock beat the school record, it really motivated everyone on the team to do their best for the rest of the meet.
“Mia is a great competitor and takes swimming very seriously, so it is exciting for the team to watch her races and see her drive,” Abel said.
Although Bullock has already had such a successful season with the swim team, she continues to work hard and push herself beyond limits at Staples swim team practices and with her club team at Chelsea Piers in order to contribute as much as she can to the success of the swim team.
“I am so happy to be able to represent such an amazing school and such an amazing group of girls,” Bullock said. “I am so honored that I will be remembered for something that I truly love within our school.”
