Some people are just built for water. Some swimmers get into the water and swim so gracefully that it appears effortless, and stroke after stroke they leave the competition behind.
Jasmine Tosky (’12), one of many gifted swimmers on the Palo Alto High School girls’ varsity swim team, and a member of the Junior National team, has already made her mark on Paly swimming history in her first season as a freshman.
The Viking has chosen Tosky as this year’s Female Underclassman of the Year. Although there were numerous highly-qualified candidates for the award, Tosky’s athleticism and sheer ability put her above the rest. This year, Tosky broke records set by swimmer Liv Jensen (’08), who not only won The Viking‘s Female Athlete of The Year last year, but also went to the Olympic trials and swims at UC Berkeley.
Tosky has set several school records this season including the previously long standing 200 Individual Medley [IM] record, with a time of 2:02.08. Additionally, she broke league records in the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly with time of 55.75 seconds.
Due to her impressive times, she has also qualified for All-American titles in 100 fly, 200 IM, 100 Free, and the 500 Free, as well as the 200 Medley Relay.
Tosky’s work ethic, competitiveness and tireless effort have played huge roles in her success this season. On top of her swimming accomplishments, Tosky has aided her peers during the coarse of the season.
“[Tosky] works really hard, and she motivates herself really well,” teammate Sabrina Lee (’11) said. “She not only pushes herself, but also pushes others to get better.”
Co-captain and teammate, Tara Murao (’09), also believes that Tosky’s hard work contributed greatly to Tosky’s success.
“She really pushes herself, she has one of the best work ethics that any athlete can have,” Murao said. “Especially since she is so young, it’s something that you just can’t teach.”
Although she is one of the youngest on Paly’s varsity swim team, her age does not hinder her ability.
“Her age doesn’t change anything,” Murao said. “She’s already really the most experienced person on the team and she is only going got get better from here.”
Dye feels that Tosky “stepped up to the challenge” and helped factor into Paly’s successful season.
Murao feels that Tosky has the ability to do a lot with her swimming and that she can go where ever her determination and drive takes her.
“She can go anywhere she wants to,” Murao said. “She has enormous potential which is really rare, and she’s extremely talented. However much she wants it, determines how far she will go.”
Although Tosky does not set goals for herself, she does have a few things that she wants to accomplish.
“I want to try to make more records and swim a little bit harder,” Tosky said. “Outside of Paly, I want to go to bigger meets like the US open and some invite meets.”