The fall season ended with a record of 10-0 for the girls varsity swim team. Senior captain Tenzin Lobsang played a large role in the team’s success, according to multiple athletes on the team and the team’s coach.

“She has been a leader who helps her teammates develop their skills and is a role model of sportsmanship at its best,” said swim coach Sally O’Keefe stated.

Senior captain Kelly Vu, who organizes meets and builds team morale alongside co-captins Tenzin and MariaJose Buitrago, praised Tenzin’s growth. “We’ve been in the team together for four years and she has improved so much just from being on the team. She honestly motivates me to be a better swimmer as well,” said Kelly.

“During my four years as Tenzin’s coach, I have witnessed her tremendous growth and development,” Coach O’Keefe said. “This development came not only in athletic skills, but in maturity and character as well.”

In competition, Tenzin’s strongest event is the 100-yard breaststroke, and she typically competes in the 100 breaststroke leg of the medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. “I like competing in the relays, like the medley relay and the freestyle relay,” she says. 

From earning numerous medals and ribbons at the NYC PSAL “B” Swimming Championship meet to working with her co-captains to lead the team through an undefeated season, Tenzin has had a strong record on the team. 

However, according to Tenzin, her swimming career didn’t begin with a plan to join a competitive team. Her first experience with swimming was when her parents pushed her to become proficient, as they viewed swimming as a really important life skill. “I learned to swim when I was really young, like around four or five,” Tenzin said. While she was introduced to swimming by her parents, Tenzin said that “[As] I grew up, I just wanted to swim. I felt more passion towards swimming.”

In high school, she wanted to join an athletic team but had to make a decision. “Because I already knew how to swim, I thought swimming was the best choice, and it was a great way to stay active and make new friends,” she said.

As a beginner, she drew on the experience of the senior and junior team members. “Freshman year, I was really confused, and so I would rely a lot on the upperclassmen,” she said. “And now, as the upperclassman and as a captain this year, I was really grateful that I was able to give back and help the other teammates.”

Teammates spoke of Tenzin’s leadership skills.

Sophomore Avika Sharma said Tenzin goes beyond the typical duties of a captain. “As captain she’s always guiding the other girls on the team. She helps with teaching certain swim techniques and is always willing to stay back to go with the late group to make sure that everyone gets to practice safe,” Avika says. “[S]he was the first person on the team that I didn’t know to really get to know me.”

Freshman Miella Block said that Tenzin is “very inclusive, kind, determined, and hard working. …She would always ask me how I’m doing and make me feel included, and she would always give me food. She was selfless and thoughtful.”

Sophomore Showa Lie said Tenzin’s leadership style centered on encouragement and calm. “She has never yelled these past two seasons, unless it’s cheering for the team,” Showa said. “Her soft words and her encouragement made practice easier and even calmer at some point.”

Despite being charged with helping her teammates to grow as swimmers, Tenzin said her favorite memories aren’t from championship meets. “I really love the small moments when we’re traveling to another team’s school or we’re going to practice. Moments like those, I think really help us get a lot closer,” she said. 

“In the changing room, we would always have such a fun time making jokes with each other,” Kelly said.

“Also, during meets she always has her towel wrapped around her head and she always films and cheers us on,” Avika said. “When we were going to a swim meet and it was just four of us girls, Tenzin was adding onto jokes, and I genuinely couldn’t stop laughing.”

After four years on the team, Tenzin walks away with two overall lessons learned. “I learned how to not breathe,” she joked, before adding, “and I learned how to push myself, even though I’m tired. Just keep pushing and pushing.”