By Laila Zukerman
Ava Franks does it all. As a senior, all-American varsity athlete and Yale swim commit, she ended her high school swimming career with some huge successes. Franks qualified for states early in the season, working to improve her time and seed in the bigger league and sectional meets.
Franks began swimming for the Marlins in Chappaqua in third grade. As she continued her journey, she joined the Empire Swimming Club, swam for Horace Greeley High School, and finally, ended her high school career at Irvington with the SHEDI (Sleepy Hollow, Hastings, Edgemont, and Irvington) swim team for the past two years.
Franks loves her SHEDI (Sleepy Hollow, Hastings, Edgemont, and Irvington) team and coaches and credits her success to their support and motivation. Her regular season was very successful, but what separates Franks from others was her extreme success in multiple events in the state tournament.
In the state meet, Franks placed second in state for 100 yard breaststroke, third in state in 200 yard individual medley, and first in state for 200 yard freestyle along with three other Edgemont swimmers on her relay team.
Her 200 yard freestyle relay also won the state meet last year. Ava was named MVP of the meet out of all of the girls in section 1 and she received the most points out of any swimmer. Ava was also voted team captain for the state team of section 1 along with another senior from Edgemont. Franks also has the chance to be a two year all-American high school swimmer, a title that is extremely commendable.
Although swimming tends to be an individual sport, the SHEDI team has had an extremely successful past two seasons. The team won the league championship and sectional championship two years in a row. The section that SHEDI competes in won the state championship this year.
Irvington teacher and SHEDI coach Ms. Schilling reflected on the season as a positive atmosphere with a tight knit team despite the fact that they’re all from different schools. She was very proud of their accomplishments.
Ava said her final swimming season of high school has been somewhat bittersweet. Her love for her high school teams, coaches, and successes allow her to feel accomplished as she leaves Irvington High School, but sad that it is all over.
Franks specifically emphasized her appreciation and love for coach Schilling, as she values the bond they have formed.
“I really want to give a shout out to [coach] Schilling. She’s amazing and she has always had my back. With me moving schools to ending my season here she has given me nothing but support and she’s just really awesome.”
