Vianka Acosta-McKenzie took her position seriously as one of the few seniors on the Amherst Regional girls swimming & diving team.
Having been on the team for three years she knew how to have fun and stay competitive in the pool.
“I feel like a lot of swimmers get stuck in the competition zone and don’t know how to have fun with swimming and actually enjoy themselves,” she said. “Being able to help swimmers with that is important.”
She also knew how it could be taken away in an instant. Three years ago she was diagnosed with scapula wings, a muscle condition that affects the shoulder blades.
“When I was first injured they told me I wouldn’t be able to swim again and I said no. Swimming is where my heart’s at,” Acosta-McKenzie said. “Anywhere I place among the top 10 or proving myself that I am good at what I do is important to me.”
Acosta-McKenzie placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke at the West Central Championship Meet and was seventh in the event at the State Division 2 meet.
Her leadership helped a young relay overcome a disqualification at the sectional meet to place third at the state meet.
For her accomplishments, Acosta-McKenzie has been named the Daily Hampshire Gazette Girls Swimming & Diving Player of the Year.
“I think the entire season as a whole was important to me, just being as it was my senior year and being able to spend it with people that made me happy and helped me enjoy my senior year,” she said. “Those are memories that I will never forget.”
Amherst coach Jennifer Albertine has been coaching the Hurricanes for four seasons and witnessed her senior’s growth up close.
“She was such a fantastic leader and she has been for several years,” Albertine said. “She’s just a genuine kid who reaches out to everyone on the team, even the kids that are the first time trying swimming. She’s respectful with them and includes them.”
Albertine also saw Acosta-McKenzie swim her way onto the Sacred Heart University team.
“She’s always set an excellent example in the pool as how to work hard and be a good swimmer, and that pays off with her times,” Albertine said. “She works hard and she gets great times.”
Acosta-McKenzie placed second in the 100 breast in 1 minute, 8.22 seconds at the sectional meet. Her state time was 1:08.24.
It was her experience in the relays that came through for the Hurricanes, who entered the postseason with the fastest 200 medley relay time and third fastest 400 freestyle relay.
“I love relays so much because I feel like the energy rises and there isn’t one once of nervousness in your body,” she said. “You’re just so excited to get in there and cheer for whoever is in the water.”
At sectionals, the Hurricanes’ 200 medley relay of sophomore Sara Baxter, Acosta-McKenzie, freshman Lucy Smith and sophomore Adda Hennessey swam a time that would have placed first. However, the relay was disqualified due to an early takeoff.
Vianka Acosta-McKenzie, senior, Amherst Regional
Sara Baxter, sophomore, Amherst Regional
Adda Hennessey, sophomore, Amherst Regional
Aurora Donta-Venman, eighth grade, Amherst Regional
Lucy Smith, freshman, Amherst Regional
Sadie Cyr, seventh grade, Amherst Regional
Nicole Beaumont, senior, Belchertown
Alannah Lavoie, freshman, Belchertown
Brooke Podsiadlo, senior Belchertown
Natalia Robak, freshman, Easthampton
Saige Harper, senior, Easthampton
Courtney Ross, junior, Easthampton
Amelia Craig, senior, Easthampton
Charlotte Brunette, senior, Holyoke
Miranda Brunette, freshman, Holyoke
Ruby Gottlieb, senior, Northampton
Abbie Murphy, senior, Northampton
Eva Bartosz, freshman, South Hadley
Reese Carey, senior, South Hadley