Lely’s Harry Stephenson never snuck up on anyone. He wasn’t a surprise. He came to Lely in his freshman year as a known commodity in the high school swimming ranks and didn’t disappoint.
He won the Collier County Athletic Conference Swimming Championships every year in the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle, breaking his own records each year.
He set new school marks in his final races, coming in second in the 200 and third in the 500 at the 2A State Swimming and Diving Championships.
He has also gained notoriety at the world level, swimming for the USA in the Junior Pan Pacific 10K Open Water Championship in January.
His accomplishments make him the Naples Daily News Boys Swimmer of the Year.
He says his success is due to “separating every race, not looking ahead. I was focused on every race. I wanted to go out fast to stay up with the leaders, then bring it home in the last 100 (meters). My strength is really in the longer distances, I am more of an endurance swimmer.”
He will take his talents to Columbia University, a member of the Ivy League.
As for his high school records?
“I think they may hold up longer as school records,” he said. “There are a lot of good swimmers in the county who will take them off the boards. There is really a lot of young talent out there.”
Stephenson remembers his early days at Lely.
“As a freshman I wanted to make a mark on the swim team and for Lely High School,” he said. “Coming from Marco Island Charter Middle School it was a new experience, being introduced to all different types of people. It has given me a better understanding of the community of people and what I will face at college.
“I learned that if you work hard, and do what it takes, you can get somewhere.”
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