EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated to correct the last name of Sierra Hunter.
PORT ANGELES — Carter Juskevich is one of those swimmers who takes it to the next level at meets.
“She, I think, took the ‘this is my final year, I’m a senior’ to heart, and made it a go — not that she doesn’t normally,” Port Angeles swimming coach Rich Butler said.
“Carter is a gamer. She loves competition. She has an element to her that she loves to compete.”
Juskevich finished her high school career with four top-six finishes at state and two school records during her senior season.
She also has been chosen as the All-Peninsula Girls Swimming and Diving MVP by area coaches and the Peninsula Daily News sports staff.
“I am able to kick it up a notch at bigger, faster competitions,” Juskevich said.
“I love the rush and adrenaline of speed through the water, and the feeling of giving a race all I have.
“I am always trying to get out front and stay out front. If I don’t stay out front, that is OK. The important thing is that I gave myself every opportunity to improve my time because I went all out.”
Juskevich said that Butler has been calling her a gamer since the end of her sophomore season.
But, Butler says, Juskevich also is a practicer.
“She is truly, truly a tough worker,” he said.
“She loves to work out in practices. Some kids only like to compete; she likes to work out and compete.
“And she likes to be surrounded by other people working hard.”
Three hard-working teammates Juskevich was surrounded by during her senior season were junior Jaine Macias, sophomore Taylor Beebe and freshman Sierra Hunter.
The four teamed up to set a new school record in the 200-yard medley relay, a time of 1 minute, 54.20 seconds, as they placed fourth at the Class 2A state championships.
“When we broke the record in the 200 medley I was blown away,” Juskevich said.
“Not because I thought we couldn’t do it, but because all four of us pulled it together at our last race of the season, which was my final high school medley. As individuals, we put a lot of time and effort into training.
“That relay is very special because we had a member of all four graduating classes. It wasn’t just outgoing seniors that took the record; it was a representation of all of the classes at Port Angeles High School.”
The other school record Juskevich broke was the 100 breaststroke. She said setting a new mark in that event also was a team effort between her and Macias.
Joni Jacobs swam the 100 breast in 1:07.20 in 1995, and Juskevich had been trying to beat that time since she was a young swimmer for Port Angles Swim Club.
“When I was little, I knew that I loved breaststroke and that I wanted my name on the high school record board,” Juskevich said.
Macias, the 2014 All-Peninsula MVP who Juskevich has been swimming with since they were young, swam the 100 breast in 1:06.80 at the district meet to surpass Jacobs’ record.
A week later at state, Juskevich took third in the 100 breast and beat Macias’ time with a 1:06.22.
Although Juskevich’s name will be going up on the record board — for now, Macias still has a shot to reclaim the mark during her senior season — she says “we” while talking about the record.
“The 100 breaststroke record was 21 years old when Janie Macias broke it at districts this year. It was a week old when I broke the record,” Juskevich said.
“As I grew up, I would look at that record. It became my motivation to work hard. When Janie broke it, I was thrilled for her and so proud that we were able to push each other and finally get the record.
“When I broke the record I was overwhelmed with joy. Janie and I have always been competitive in practice and in races, so it was a great feeling that we as teammates motivated each other to not only break a record once in a season, but twice.”
Juskevich concludes her high school career with 11 total state podium finishes. That includes four her senior season: third in 100 breast, fourth in 200 medley relay, fifth in 200 freestyle and sixth in 200 freestyle relay.
Starting this fall, she’ll be chasing more podiums and records at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Fla.
As she did for her swim meets, Juskevich put in a lot of work to find the right school to sign with before the state meet.
As soon as she found Florida Tech, she had a feeling it was the school for her.
“I loved everything I read about the psychology program, and it offered sports psychology, which was hard to find,” Juskevich said.
“The pool looked amazing, it was a Division II school, but also private so the student body size was not overwhelming.”
After not receiving a response to an email she sent, Juskevich said, “I cold-called their office.”
Florida Tech’s head coach, Justin Andrade, happened to answer the phone, and invited Juskevich for a visit. By the end of that visit, he offered her a spot on the team.
“I just got back from a second visit,” Juskevich said last week, “and Florida Institute of Technology is the perfect school for me because it feels like home.”
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
