March 2016 Athletes of the Month: Joel Hashimoto and Daniela Acuna
Joel Hashimoto
For Joel Hashimoto, swimming is a passion. A junior, Joel has been swimming competitively for eight years and has been on the Edmonds varsity swim team since he was a freshman. And although he loves the sport, it does come with challenges.
“My height, standing only 5 foot 5, is a disadvantage to my swimming,” explained Joel. “I essentially have to try twice as hard as people who are taller than me.”
But Joel has clearly overcome that challenge. Last year he swam on the team’s 400 freestyle relay at state. “I hope to continue swimming throughout college, preferably at a four-year university,” he said.
In addition to excelling in the pool, Joel also succeeds in the classroom. He is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program at Edmonds-Woodway and plans to study either engineering or psychology after graduating in 2017.
Although swimming is mostly an individual sport, Joel said he what he enjoys most about the competition is being part of a team. And as he goes forward in life, whether it is in swimming, school or a career, he will carry with him the words of a former coach. “My old coach, Jenna, always told our team ‘I can’t means I don’t want to.’”
Daniela Acuna
“If I could take away one thing that my coach has taught me for the past fours years, it would be that honor and dedication are an essential piece to an athlete’s character,” said senior Daniela Acuna.
A member of the dance team for the past four years and captain for the past two, Daniela is not only a dedicated athlete but also manages to participate in many other activities and advanced classes.
“(I am) the historian as a part of the ASB (Associated Student Body) executive board at my school, as well as a member of National Honor Society and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program,” said Daniela who will graduate with an IB diploma this spring.
Although she has yet to decide where she will attend college, her top choices include the University of Washington, Whitman College and Seattle Pacific University. Daniela plans to major in both psychology and Spanish with a goal of earning her doctorate.
“While in school, I plan to participate in any dance clubs or competitive dance teams that my college offers or join a dance studio in the area that offers classes so that I may continue to progress on my dance journey,” she shared of her passion.
Wherever she goes in life, Daniela hopes to continue to dance. “Dance has truly been a light in my life; it has been my way of escaping bad days for the past four years,” said Daniela. “Once I enter practice, all of my other worries disappear and I’m able to focus on what I love doing!”
