Mya Jackson joined the Hemet High swim team as a junior. Mya was new to the school but not swimming. She has been swimming for the majority of her life, after a scary incident at a pool when she was a child, her mom felt the need to encourage swimming and instantly signed her up for a local swimming program. Mya started swimming competitively ten years ago. Her mom says she was a natural from the first moment.
Since joining the swim team at Hemet, Mya has broken a few records that were over 20 years old, Including the 50 freestyle (23.29), 100 freestyle (51.02), and the 100 backstrokes (59.39). Mya trains three times a week in San Bernardino with Victory Aquatics. She doesn’t only train there; she also spends time coaching the younger kids.
Mya finished her High School career ranked ninth in the state for CIF and first for USA
swimming. She won her two individual CIF events and went undefeated on the year at CIF
events. Identifying the caliber of swimmer she is. Mya drew attention from over 90 different colleges all hoping to offer her a scholarship to swim at their school. Mya said she knew that she wanted to stay in California, so a lot of the schools were immediately dismissed. Mya and her mom only visited four schools, when she stepped on to campus at Cal-State Bakersfield; she almost knew right away that it was the place for her.
Mya trains three times a week in San Bernardino with Victory Aquatics. She doesn’t only train there; she also spends time coaching the younger kids.
Mya finished her High School career ranked ninth in the state for CIF and first for USA
swimming. She won her two individual CIF events and went undefeated on the year at CIF
events. Identifying the caliber of swimmer she is. Mya drew attention from over 90 different colleges all hoping to offer her a scholarship to swim at their school. Mya said she knew that she wanted to stay in California, so a lot of the schools were immediately dismissed. Mya and her mom only visited four schools, when she stepped on to campus at Cal-State Bakersfield; she almost knew right away that it was the place for her.
Mya talked about how impressive the facilities are and how they are building new pools, but that isn’t the thing that drew her to that school. Mya loved the way the team played and the vibes she felt from her fellow athletes, “There were lots of positive vibes, I felt like there was a team mentality here, and it seemed family-oriented.” Mya hopes that while at Cal-State Bakersfield, she can shave 0.3 seconds off her time, which will enable her to try out for the Olympic trials.
While at Cal-State Bakersfield Mya is going to major in kinesiology. She wants to work in sports in the future as a physical therapist and help people rehab who suffer from significant injuries like she did when she was in middle school. Mya broke her Fibula and had to spend some time away from the pool, but made a full come back and never let the injury slow her down.
Mya would like to thank her mom for all of her love and support, her grandma for always having her back, and her coach Loren McCoy for being willing to meet with her and work around her schedule. The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle would like to acknowledge Mya for her amazing achievements and can’t wait to see what her future holds.
