In just her first year at Simon Fraser University, Maran Kokoszka is fitting right in with her team in the pool like she was still at home, swimming at the Ravensong Aquatic Center.
Kokoszka, an 18 year old from Qualicum Beach, has made the transition rather easily, balancing a workload that splits her time between the classroom and the swim team.
“I just got home from my first semester, it’s been good,” Kokoszka said. “I’m in a strength and conditioning program, which has helped me out pretty good. It’s nice because the coaches and teammates are all very positive and motivating.”
A member of the relay team, Kokoszka is also competing in individual events, which include the 100 and 200 meter in the backstroke and freestyle events. Her relay team, the 4 x 200 freestyle event, has achieved a “B” standing, which is good enough to make it to the NCAA portion of competition.
“The team has been great, really great,” she said. “We’ve swam great at all of our events and getting our times up to compete at the NCAA level is our goal. We’ve reached the B standard, which is good for us and we’re hoping to maintain that mark.”
While keeping up her grades in the classroom, which she said “is going really well so far”, Kokoszka hopes to reach the “B” standard in her favourite event, the 200 meter backstroke.
“That’s my favourite event, the 200 backstroke,” she said. “It’s a love hate relationship, you don’t really like it when you’re practicing it but it’s the outcome that you work towards, that is the part I love the most.”