Malvern Prep’s Kevin Cary is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week
The junior swimmer has become the top freestyler on the Malvern Prep swimming squad, and is the anchor on the Friars’ freestyle relays. Last year, he was a finalist at National Catholics and at Easterns, where he finished eighth in the 200 free. He also earned first team All Inter-Ac swimming honors and received All-Main Line swimming recognition. He is receiving interest from many Division 1 swimming programs and is currently ranked by collegeswimming.com as the No. 6 junior swimming recruit in Pennsylvania.
Q: What do you think has been the biggest key to your success in the freestyle?
A: I think the biggest part of my success is belief in myself. Years ago, I never thought I would be able to say that I was this fast of a swimmer; but since I now know what I’m capable of, I have the confidence to give it my all.
Q: What is your favorite memory of the 2020 postseason? What do you think was your best swim in the 2020 postseason?
A: My 2020 Easterns was an awesome experience and my favorite race was my 200 freestyle because of the competition I was up against in the A final. It was so exciting to race against everyone, which fueled me to swim fast that entire weekend.
Q: You’re considered by Malvern Prep coach Jay Schiller as a versatile swimmer who could be posting All-American times in multiple events this winter. What are your goals for the 2021 Malvern Prep swimming season?
A: I think my goals as of right now are to at least have a season. I think that following all protocols of COVID-19 is imperative and by doing so, we can at least train and get excited to swim in meets with everyone on the team going forward.
Q: Can you walk us through a typical day, or cycle, of training, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: Because of COVID-19, training has been a rollercoaster of a ride the past few months. I actually had to transfer club teams in order to keep swimming throughout the fall. But being able to join an awesome club team like the Upper Mainline YMCA has been a true gift. I have been able to consistently practice daily, swimming or dryland, because of UMLY. During the week I have two-hour practices after school; and on the weekends I have two-hour early morning practices.
Q: What sparked your original interest in competitive swimming? Who have been your most influential swimming mentors?
A: I have been swimming since I was four years old and I have always been in contact with swimming. All of my siblings have done it before and it was contagious to me. As I’ve gotten older, I have picked up many different tips and lessons from great swimmers and coaches that help me to this day.
Q: What is your favorite swimming venue, and why?
A: The Franklin and Marshall-Kunkel Aquatic Center is the pool I’ve swam in the most and have always had a great time there. I have competed there in many meets, most commonly Easterns, and it gets better every year I go.
Fun facts – Kevin Cary
Favorite books: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Favorite TV show: Avatar: The Last Airbender/The Legend of Korra.
Favorite movies: The Shawshank Redemption, Star Wars: A New Hope.
Favorite athletes: Tyrann Mathieu, Ryan Lochte.
Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: The Fighter by Gym Class Heroes ft. Ryan Tedder.
Favorite team: “I’m mainly a Philadelphia Eagles fan, and like any other NFL team except the Dallas Cowboys.”
Favorite pre-meet meal: The Lyndon Breakfast Special at the Lyndon Diner.
Person I most admire, and why: “I haven’t ever needed to look further than the dinner table to find my role models. My parents are the people I most adore and I love them to the moon and back.”
Siblings: “I’m the youngest of four – my sister Courtney is the oldest sibling, Chris is my oldest brother, and my other brother Connor is just three years older than me.”
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
