Athlete of the Week: Aidan Holbrook

Photos by Luke Hoffman

Q: How long have you been swimming?
A: I’ve been swimming for about eight years.

Q: Who did you start swimming with?
A: I started swimming with the Fairway Fins and then from there I started to join around 6th grade and Blazers and stuck with them.

Q: What events do you swim?
A: Right now I currently swim the 200 free, 500 free, and 200 IM

Q: What is your favorite event out of all of those?
A: I would say the 200 IM because it isn’t really what I started out swimming but it’s what someone who I really looked up to thought I would be really good at it. I said “No way” but I turned out to really like it

Q: What was your mindset going into state?
A: I was a little nervous, we started looking at the competition and we knew it was always going to be a hard win. I’d say I was just really trying to focus hard on what was best for the team and what I could do for the team.

Q: What did you individually place?
A: I placed 2nd in the 200 IM and then 3rd in the 200 freestyle.

Q: What was feeling after winning state for the 4th year in a row?
A: It never gets old. I guess being a senior made it even more special and getting four in a row topped it off. It gave me a lot of gratification knowing that we did it the way we wanted to.

Q: What is your favorite memory from swim?
A:I think freshman year when we were all huddled around the Blue Valley North duel meet, it was their senior night and the first half they destroyed us. The second half came around and there was a little break so the team gathered around and all of the seniors rallied us and told us we can do it. It came down to the very last relay and we lost. Even though we lost it was kind of like the inspiration that we can do this and we will. The seniors really wanted a chance to win state and after that meet we were inspired to.

Q: Do you have any advice for next year’s team?
A: Trust the team and trust the coach. They are the greatest family, greatest friends that you’ll meet. The coach always knows what he is doing.

Q: What will you miss the most about swimming for East?
A:  I’ll miss the family the most. It’s the thing I can’t stress enough. It’s going to be hard to move on and realize I won’t be swimming with them as a team.

Coach Wiley Wright shakes senior Aidan Holbrook’s hand after he wins his 200 yard freestyle relay