Joey Souza Reflects on His Past Four Years at O'Dea after the End of His Senior Season

Student athlete Joey Souza had been swimming for O’Dea since he was a freshman and he had learned a lot from past alumni that had guided him throughout his high school career.

Swimming had been part of Souza's life for a long time and before he joined O’Dea he had swum because he enjoyed it. When it came to choosing a sport at O’Dea he knew what he wanted to do.

Every year Souza improved his skill on the swim team and swam in different lane races

every year. Since his senior season ended after the Metro tournament, he had expressed his appreciation towards the program many times.

Although he hadn't been able to get his letter he had taken a role in becoming a leader and being there to support his teammates throughout the season. Souza hadn't seen himself as one of the team's main leaders but he had seen how much of an impact he had made on the team.

In Souza’s senior season before the Metro League Championship, he knew he had to advocate for his teammates to work hard and motivate himself to be ready.

“We can win Metros if everyone goes to the gym and keeps practicing harder for Metros,” said Souza.

When the time came O’Dea had placed 3rd in Metros and Souza, unfortunately, didn't qualify past Metros but had been satisfied that he still helped the team in Metros and that he stuck with a hobby he loved for another four years in his high school career.

O’Dea as a team once again had another successful postseason by placing 6th in the state championship and having two swimmers place in state and having one state champion Jack Skarda.

Although Souza didn’t get the ending he wanted to have he still appreciated the time he put in and the coaches that helped him throughout his journey and didn’t have any regrets he could think of which made him feel happy.

Souza still plans on swimming when he goes to college but right now, he is unsure of what his future will be when it comes to swimming competitively.

“I’ll have to see how everything plays out because I’m going to focus on my academics mainly but if I do get an opportunity to swim on a team ill have to know what my situation is like and if I can manage it,” says Souza.