By Matt Browning

Jensen Lynnes of Wellington was voted the Wichita Small School Girls Swimmer of the Year. Lynnes overcame injuries this season to make it to the state meet.

“It is an honor to have received the most votes against such a talented group of girls,” Lynnes said. “Any of those girls are just as deserving of this. I want to make a special shoutout to my teammates: Emma, Reese, and Lilli who I have the privilege of swimming with each day to push each other to be our best, and Georgia as a club teammate. I can’t thank my community, family, and friends enough as they always rally for me as the only Wellington High School swimmer. Their support has blown me away.”

Lynnes had such a severe shoulder injury early in the season that she was forced to sit out some of her meets.

“This season has been one of resilience,” Lynnes said. “I have been fighting a shoulder issue throughout the season and I’m happy I was able to swim near my best times as we enter into the postseason.”

There was not a specific physical improvement for Lynnes in the pool this season, but she thinks her biggest area of growth was her mental strength.

“After all the obstacles physically in my way, I learned that it is best to do what I can to improve while letting my body heal simultaneously,” Lynnes said. “I learned to not get discouraged over something I cannot control, but to use it to spark a fire under me and be the best I can in every other way.”