With some influence from watching his older sister swim, along with a bit of a nudge from his parents, Kevin Woodsum got his chance in the pool and found a sport that is a perfect match.
“I took swimming lessons when I was six or seven, and then I finally joined a team,” says Woodsum. “I was competitive on it, and I really enjoyed the experience. It’s continued with me until this day, and I still really enjoy the sport.”
A senior at JSerra Catholic High School, Woodsum considers himself a versatile swimmer who can compete wherever the team and coaching staff need his contributions. He favors the butterfly stroke and has the heart of a competitor.
“I love the sport in general, especially the competition,” says the 17-year-old. “But I also like the experiences with my teammates. It’s a good place to spend your energy, and I really like it.”
The three-year varsity swimmer has earned three straight team MVP honors, qualified for CIF in all three seasons, scored in two events in 2019 and currently holds four school records. Woodsum is also getting it done in the classroom, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, as well as in the community as frequent volunteer in local service projects.
“Since joining the team his freshman year, Kenneth has proven to be an extraordinary leader both in and out of the pool,” says JSerra aquatics director, Kevin Clements. “He is always involved in our community service projects and team building activities, despite having a very demanding club schedule. He serves his team, school and community with a great deal of pride and respect. Kenneth is a true Lion.”
Woodsum cites time management and prioritization as the biggest challenges that come with being a competitive swimmer, but coming together as a team with faith as a foundation make the sacrifices worth it.
“One of the things that [swimming] has taught me is dedication,” says Woodsum. “Another is teamwork…and it’s the combination of faith in it, too. It’s a nice experience to have that element there. [Faith] really sets the tone and atmosphere and makes you want to work harder.”
On campus, Woodsum is involved in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club as well as National Honor Society (NHS). The Mission Viejo resident also enjoys hiking, kayaking and spending time outdoors. His future plans including swimming collegiately and pursing a business degree, and he is inspired to do so by his father’s strong will, courage and fortitude, as well as motivation from swim camp coach Nick Baker.
“One thing that [Baker has] taught me is that confidence is the key to everything,” says Woodsum. “You’ve got to be confident when you go into situations. He also taught me to value the little things, the good parts of your day. The things he’s taught me have stuck with me to this day.”