New Providence's Kudryashova is the CN Girls Swimmer of the Year
It was never like Sophia Kudryashova was a downer. But as she evolved from a green freshman to a mature sophomore, something changed in her. The New Providence High School student started to shoo away negative thoughts. So much so, that she now sounds like a future fortune cookie writer or an inspirational video maker.
"I just bounce back after negative thoughts," she said. "You can’t even do it at all with these negative thoughts. You just got to brush it off. You got to say it’s okay. You know, like you have to trust your training. You work so hard, you got to be positive, you can’t throw that all away."
Somebody call Tony Robbins or Hallmark.
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Kudryashova’s can-do attitude along with her skills and tenacity — sometimes she’ll swim two practices in a day sandwiched by a race — has led to a big season. She is the 2016-17 Courier News Girls Swimmer of the Year for her successes. Highlights include streaking to two high places at the Meet of Champions on March 5 at Gloucester County Institute of Technology. She took second in the 100 freestyle with a 51.28 after posting the top preliminary time of 50.61. Additionally, she took third in the 200 freestyle (1:49.82).
At the Union County Championships on Jan. 22, Kudryashova broke two meets records with a 1:50.61 in the 200 and a 51.14 in the 100. The previous record holder from 2011 in the 100 was very pleased — her sister Julia, who also swam for New Providence.
Julia competed at Rutgers and had a successful career on the YMCA circuit. Sophia would go to her meets with her parents, and dream about splashing in her footsteps. Current New Providence coach Walter Kempner, started coaching her when she was seven for the local summer team.
"I looked up to that," she said. "When I was seven, eight years old that’s really what inspired me. I said, ‘Oh wow, I want all those trophies. I want all those awards and everything.’ … My mom and coach Kempner, said, ‘Wow, like maybe this will be you someday.’ And here we are."
She started training with the Berkeley Aquatic Club in New Providence and had success as a freshman for the Pioneers. She qualified for the MOC in the 50 and the 100 freestyle, but didn’t make the finals. Simply, Kudryashova said she was happy to represent her small high school on the big swimming stage, and was honored to go against the best in the state.
Now, they’re honored to be competing with her.
Kudryashova shaved around four seconds off her time in the 100 from last season. She got stronger and more experienced in the fast races. Sprinting in swimming isn’t like a track speedster where you rip down the lane. For one, there’s a wall. There’s several turns. You have to know when to accelerate, when to slow down just enough. Kudryashova said, "It’s kind of just like physics, really. It’s not as simple as everyone thinks. There’s so much thought. There’s speed, just everything has to be perfect and on point."
That includes having the right mental attitude and being able to navigate through a long season. She’ll stay loose at meets by listening to pump up songs. If there’s ever a down moment, she’ll talk with her close swimming friends. Soon, the positivity "ripples."
Cue up the inspirational quotes.
"I always, always, just think positive," she said. "I just motivate myself and with the help of others. … I think negativity just can bring you down so much, it’s amazing. Because, like I said, swimming is such an emotional sport. It’s really so big on the mental aspect and that’s what I’ve learned in the past two years. That’s another reason, why I’ve gotten so much stronger, because I’ve just been more positive. Of course, thinking is good but you can’t overthink it really."
One thing she doesn’t mind thinking about is her joy for swimming.
"I love swimming because a good workout clears the mind," she said. "After school, after a stressful day, I can just unplug from everything and swim for a couple hours. There’s no greater feeling coming out of the pool after a hard workout knowing you achieved something. Like you worked hard. I swim because there’s a chance to be amazing."