Over 250,000 high school students swim competitively. Of that 250,000, only five swimmers with the lowest time in their specialized swim per grade make the U.S.A. Junior National Team. That’s one swimmer out of every 4,200 swimmers. To put that into perspective, if you swim competitively as a high schooler, you have a 0.024% chance of earning the privilege of this title.
Two Tigers have earned this title this year: sophomore Wilson York and junior Boone Wilcox. A title that is highly esteemed is “Saint Xavier varsity swimmer” not only in Kentucky but the entire country. The Tiger-Sharks have won 61 KHSAA state championships in swimming and are on a 37-year hot streak as well.
The Tigers recently became one of the few programs in the history of high school swimming to win back-to-back national championships in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. With that being said, the Tigers are a top-five program in the country. Many Tiger alumni have participated in the Olympics, and we may have two future Olympians walking our very halls right now.
One of our Tigers started his journey due to inspiration from a fellow brother from Saint Xavier. Current junior at Saint Xavier, Boone Wilcox, a member of the U.S.A. Junior Team, and I spoke and here’s what he had to say about one of his role models:
“I was inspired to join my sport by another Saint X brother named Jack Harty,” Wilcox said. “He was a captain on the Saint X team when I was around 6 years old, and he was one of my summer league coaches. He was extremely encouraging and outgoing, which made me want to get better at the sport.”
For Boone, the goal of the U.S.A. Junior Team has been years in the making. Boone has been balancing school and swimming since he was around 12 years old, when he started club swimming, waking up at four in the morning multiple times a week.
York credits his teammates and coaches for pushing him to chase such a high level so early in his career.
“Coach Larkin has always been very supportive of what I do not only in the pool, but how I represent St. X outside of school, and that is something that I am very proud of,” York said. “My teammates continue to push me in practice every day and are also supportive of me.”
Thanks to the support of many, Wilson York has accomplished this feat as just a sophomore. One of five in the country, but he still has very high goals set for his future. Two Wilson mentioned to me were:
- To medal at Jr. Pan Pacific Championships this summer.
- Make the regular national team, not just the Jr. one.
“There’s always more to reach for,” York said.
Many athletes dream of representing their country in their respective sport. These guys have earned the ability to do that with their hard work and dedication.
“Representing my school and my country couldn’t mean any more to me,” Wilcox said. ”It is at the forefront of my mind, and I can’t wait to step up and do the best I can. I have a responsibility to respect the ‘X’ I wear on my clothes and the flag I will wear on my head.”
Although neither of these young men are seniors, they both wanted to say a few words to younger Saint Xavier athletes and future Tigers.
“The journey and hardship you are in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow,” Wilcox said. “Keep going because there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.”
“St. X is to be grateful and use their resources wisely,” York said. “If you pray to God to win an Olympic medal one day, he won’t provide you with the medal. He will provide you with a place to swim so you have the opportunity to win the medal.”
With one of the rarest accomplishments in high school sports, we are tremendously proud of our guys and wish them the best of luck in their pursuit of medals now and hopefully in the near future.
