Senior Kai Yang will be making school history on Friday afternoon by being the first Memorial athlete to qualify for a state competition. Yang is competing in the 100-yard butterfly at the Lee & Joe Jamail Swimming Center in Austin.
“I’m practicing really hard, usually I wouldn’t practice as much because butterfly is really difficult, but now I am since it’s the only thing I’m going to state for,” Yang said. “And I’ve definitely grown a lot, I can’t believe I still keep dropping time honestly.”
Swim coach Oyvind Zahl has been with Yang since his freshman year and has watched him grow and change.
“Kai has improved every year on the swim team,” Zahl said. “He has dropped times in all his events and holds most of the school records for Memorial.”
Personally, Yang enjoys swimming for the experiences he shares with others.
“Swimming with other people is what makes it special,” Yang said. “There are so many other people who are better than me, it’s honestly just amazing.”
The 100-yard butterfly was not the event Zahl and Yang expected him to go to state for, but it was a pleasant surprise.
“I was hoping someone would qualify,” Zahl said. “I thought Kai had a chance with the 50 freestyle, especially after winning district, but as it turned out, the 100 butterfly was what punched his ticket to the state meet.”
This year marks the first time Yang has made it to state in a Class 5A school. He previously went to state in Class 4A while attending Wichita Falls High School, finishing seventh in the 100 butterfly a year ago.
“I’m honestly still surprised myself,” Yang said. “I went to state my sophomore and junior year, but those years weren’t nearly as hard this year, like at all, since we’re in 5A now.”
Yang’s enthusiasm about the sport is what sets him apart from other swimmers.
“Kai has good technique and is self-motivated; I don’t have to tell him to work,” Zahl said. “He just does it.”
Yang will have to continue to improve from his regional meet if he hopes to make it to the second day of state.
“I was very excited for him,” Zahl said. “It’s his third time to state in the 100-yard butterfly. He set a personal best to make second at region. Competition will be challenging at state though. Kai will have to drop quite a lot of time to be able to swim in the finals on Saturday.”
