Jazlyn Jimenez didn’t like the water at first, her mother told Argo Community High School swim coach Carla Murray.
Now the freshman is headed to state.
Jimenez qualified at the LT Sectional and is scheduled to compete in the 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 50 freestyle at the IHSA Swimming & Diving State Finals this Saturday, Nov. 14 at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont. The natatorium has an Olympic-size competition pool and seats 1,400 spectators.
Jimenez started aqua therapy after a surgery, according to what her mother told Murray. In 2022, she began swimming with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab swim team and has competed in multiple meets out of state. She also swam two years at the YMCA in Berwyn.
Murray said Jimenez is the Summit school’s first AWD (athlete with disabilities) swimmer.
“We are so incredibly proud of her,” Murray said.