WORTHINGTON — Ivy Jenson returned to the Worthington YMCA Stingrays swim team this past year after a knee injury suffered in athletics the as a junior. Jenson swam on the team in her youth but gave the sport up when she began participating in varsity athletics.
Jenson returned to the swim team as a WHS senior this year and put together a strong season. Her quick times at the Minnesota YMCA state meet qualified her for the upcoming Midwest Regional Swim Meet on April 1-2, at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Jenson qualified in the 100-meter freestyle, 100-meter backstroke, and the 50-meter freestyle events. She also qualified for two relays with her teammates.
The Stingrays team sent 59 swimmers to the state meet in February.
Jenson is the female winner of Worthington High School’s Triple “A” award. The award is given to one female and one male senior who are exemplary in Minnesota State High School League-sponsored athletics, arts and academics. Jenson was chosen to represent Region 2AA and is a finalist for the statewide Triple “A” award, which will be announced later this month.
Jenson is the second in her family to win the distinguished award; her older brother, Cameron Jenson, was the male winner in 2016.
ADVERTISEMENT
Jenson is a member of the WHS band, choir and orchestra. She competed on the girls tennis team in the fall, and will participate in track and field this spring. She is a former member of the Worthington Trojans gymnastics team. Jenson will attend North Dakota State University this fall and plans to study architecture.
To see a video of Ivy Jenson in the pool, visit dglobe.com . Here’s a sample of our interview:
Question: You came back to swimming this year, can you tell us how that has been?
Answer: This is my first year back since I took a little break. It has been challenging, I will say. Swimming is a sport that you must do in order to gain the strength back. I definitely did not have the endurance that I used to have, but the strength that gymnastics taught me in perseverance helped me a lot.
Question: What, in your estimation, is the most valuable advice you have received in your athletic career?
Answer: I think the most valuable thing that I have learned is just to keep going and persevere. You don’t always know what is going to happen next, but you can control what you do about the experiences that you face.
Question: What is your role on the swim team?
Answer: As a senior member of the swim team, I am a leader to the younger kids. I try to be uplifting and positive and show that even on a bad day you can still do your best.
The Trust Project
