Conestoga’s Jake Wang is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week
The sophomore was named Boys Swimmer of the Meet at the recent PIAA District 1 3A Championships, finishing first in the 200 IM and 100 breast for the second year in a row, and was a member of both the Pioneers’ first-place 200 medley relay team (that set a new District 1 record) and the first-place 400 free relay team. He achieved an All-American automatic time in both the 100 breast and 400 free relay and consideration time in both the 200 IM and 200 medley relay. As a freshman, he was state medalist in the 100 breast (sixth), 200 medley relay (fourth, All-American consideration) and 400 free relay (fourth, All-American consideration).
Q: What do you think was your best swim at Districts, and what was the key to your performance?
A: My best swim was definitely my 200 IM as I performed very well and dropped a lot of time from my personal best. The key to my performance was not letting the stress get to my head right before the race and just letting loose, executing every step like I had planned out before. My backstroke split was the biggest area of improvement as it was the main catalyst for my dropping time.
Q: What is your favorite memory of the recent District 1 3A championships?
A: My favorite memory was being in the team area and cheering. The team was getting very excited and hyped after each good swim by every one of our swimmers.
Q: What aspect of your swimming did you work on most during the past off-season?
A: The thing that my coaches and I tried focusing on most was more endurance training so I wouldn’t die as hard on the last 50 in swims like my 200 IM.
Q: Tell us a little about your start in competitive swimming. What swimming accomplishment outside of Conestoga are you most proud of?
A: I started competitive swimming when I was 6 back in the Lionville Community YMCA and then moving to Suburban Swim Club when I was 10, which is where I still swim today. My proudest accomplishment outside of Conestoga would be breaking many club team records and making high level cuts like Summer Junior Nationals and NCSAs.
Q: Who have been your most valuable swimming mentors, and what were the most important things you learned from each of them?
A: My most valuable swimming mentor would definitely be Suburban Swim Club coach Charlie Kennedy, who has coached me for a long time and shaped me into the swimmer I am today. My parents also greatly inspire me, figuring out my game plans for my swims and calculating ideal splits for me before every meet. The one thing in common with both of them is that they’ve taught me never to lose hope and to stay strong and do my best.
Q: What is your favorite swimming venue, and why?
A: My favorite swimming venue would be the location of Suburban Swim Club’s midseason championship, the University of Maryland’s College Park pool. I have so many great memories from meets there and I’ve had many great swims there.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-meet preparation on the day of a meet.
A: I am usually the quiet type when it comes before my swims. I’m not loud or disruptive before I swim, as I usually am trying to find my zen and calm. I enjoy listening to music and getting hyped on the inside, just not expressing any of it. I find myself often in a state of “calm before the storm,” the storm being the race and the calm being the pre-meet ritual. Other than the mental aspects, I try my best to feel as loose as possible, getting rid of as many sore spots as possible that still may be around my muscles.
Q: Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities at Conestoga other than swimming?
A: I play piano and I belong to the Asian American Culture Club at Conestoga.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at Conestoga? What do you think you’d like to major in at college? Is there a career path that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: My favorite courses are my math courses and history courses. I’d like to major in either something in finance or law. I am interested in something in the finance world or being a lawyer.
Fun facts – Jake Wang
Favorite book: The Maze Runner Series.
Favorite author: James Dashner.
Favorite TV show: The Office.
Favorite movie: Star Wars Revenge of the Sith.
Favorite athlete: Yao Ming.
Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: Till I Collapse by Eminem.
Favorite team: Sixers.
Favorite place to visit: China.
Favorite pre-meet meal: Fried rice.
Person I most admire, and why: “Brendan Hansen, a really good breaststroker, who broke a lot of world records and one day I might want to break some as well. Also, Rocky Balboa, an inspiration for never giving up.”
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
