As the Fox Chapel Area swim team enters the 2024-2025 season, the Foxes’ success relies just as much on the contributions of the many other swimmers who are also talented but do not always get the most recognition. These unsung heroes are the glue that binds the team, in and out of the pool.
Seniors Jenny Adamo, Rayna Huang, and Paul Park embody this spirit. As members of the team since they were freshmen, they bring talent, positivity, and leadership that foster an atmosphere of inclusion, especially for the newer swimmers.
“One of the best parts of coaching is watching the evolution of the team, and bringing all levels of leadership and abilities together,” says coach Matt Mauclair. “The complexity of the student-athlete is super cool to observe.”
Jenny Adamo: The Go-To Athlete
A member of the National Honor Society, Jenny competes in the 50 freestyle and 200 breaststroke events. She strives to be an approachable leader, offering advice and encouragement to help her teammates balance their lives, which become more rigorous and complex once they arrive at the high school.
“Every year, the freshmen come in and amaze us with their talent,” Jenny says. “This year is no different. I try to be open to others and someone who is easy to come to for advice. I want them to know I am someone who they can always lean on for help, whether that is academically, socially, or physically in the pool.”
Rayna: Leading with Versatility and Focus
Rayna, who began competitive swimming at 9 years old, specializes in the 500 free and 100 butterfly, with her favorite being the latter. She’s a versatile swimmer who can also contribute in the 200 IM relay and the 400 free when needed.
For Rayna, her most meaningful contributions often go beyond the scoreboard. When she’s not in the pool herself, she makes a point of doing small but impactful gestures such as giving tips, congratulating individuals after their swims, and just talking with them about their day or classes.
“Those were the things that personally made me feel included on the team when I was an underclassman, so I try to emulate them as a senior,” Rayna says.
She is also mindful of the pressures that come with being on a very competitive team.
“I know it can be pretty easy to get wrapped up in times and cuts, so I try to express that it’s okay to just let that go sometimes and live in the moment,” she says.
Senior captain Sarah Pasquella, a University of Michigan recruit who has earned gold and silver medals at WPIALs and states since she was a sophomore, praises Jenny and Rayna for their contributions.
“I can confidently say that they are both some of the sweetest teammates, and they have been a pleasure to swim with over the past few years,” Sarah says. “They consistently encourage others in practice and push themselves every single day, going above and beyond.”
Paul Park: A Spirited Teammate
Captain Christian Dantey, a WPIAL gold medalist and state silver medalist who signed with George Washington University, has known Paul Park since their early days of swimming with Killer Whales. He says, “Paul is very strong in the water, and he’s always giving his best effort from the start. He has solid swims and puts up points. Any points scored are beneficial to the team.”
Paul’s enthusiasm is part of the fabric of meets.
“I think my best quality is cheering at meets,” he says. “I’m always yelling at someone to cheer them on.”
However, not to be overlooked are his performances in the pool that help the Foxes realize many of their goals. Paul competes in the 100 breast and the 100 free events.
“I like the 100 breast because the water feels really great, and I feel like I glide a lot when doing the stroke,” he says. “And I like the 100 free because I can be really powerful during the whole event.”
But he says (with a mixture of seriousness and humor) his personal goals are to beat teammate, junior Arman Alborzi, in the 50 and 100 freestyle and continue to swim to maintain his health.
Coach Mauclair admires what each of these seniors bring to the team culture and how much they try to boost the spirits of their teammates.
“Jenny, Rayna, and Paul remind us that leadership isn’t just about winning races – it’s about fostering a team culture where everyone feels motivated and valued,” he says. “Each athlete is a talented swimmer in his and her own right. They lead by example to ensure that the Foxes swim team thrives, not only as a competitive program each year, but also as a close-knit group. Their impact goes well beyond the pool deck.”