Junior Tess Heavener is a swimmer at Fenton High who has recently committed to the University of Notre Dame which she will attend after she graduates in 2025. She has a lengthy list of achievements which she hopes to add to in the following swim season during her senior year. This year alone, Heavner won two state championships in both the 200 IM with a time of 2:03.69 and the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.10 during states. Heavner and the whole team had a good time at states.
“States went very well for our team. We had so much fun and the energy was really high. I achieved my goal of winning a state title in both of my events. It had been a goal of mine for a long time so I was very pleased.”
Heavner is ambitious and hopes to meet her goals next swim season as well.
“I would like to win my events again at states,” Heavner said, “and be a part of getting our relay to be All State.”
Though swimming can be challenging with practices before and after school, plus long meets, Heavner finds a way to stay positive and persevere.
“My goals and my teammates are what keep me motivated to continue swimming,” Heavner said.
Heavner officially committed to Notre Dame this year during the recruiting official visits. She visited other D1 schools including Duke and Arizona State University. She was planning on visiting a few other colleges but ended up canceling those college visits because she had committed to Notre Dame.
“The recruiting official visits process was an amazing experience for me,” Heavner said. “The visits the colleges set up for the recruits and being able to meet the teams and coaches was so memorable.”
Ultimately Heavner made the decision to commit to Notre Dame because she will be an alumni.
“I will be a part of a long line of family alumni from Notre Dame,” Heavner said, “so I grew up loving it. It has always been a special place to me.”
All in all, Heavner had an impressive and lively junior swim season.
“The whole season from start to finish was a blast,” Heavner said, “from bonding at our team camp in August all the way to winning two state titles.”
