As Wildcat swimmers prepare for their first meet of the season on Wednesday, a familiar name once again graces the BOHS pool deck: Franks.

Senior Stephanie Franks and brother Kyle Franks, sophomore, continue an aquatics legacy that began with Daniel Franks (‘22), a three-time All-League selection and two-time league MVP in water polo currently attending and competing at Chapman University.

Kyle continued right where his older brother left off: He led the varsity water polo team in goals scored this season, and last year, as a freshman on varsity swim, he swam a 55.8 second 100 meter backstroke, just three seconds off the BOHS record.

Stephanie, announced as a valedictorian on Feb. 14, swims the 500 meter (the longest event offered in high school aquatics) and made league finals as a junior last season. 

The Franks siblings, Kyle and Stephanie, met with the Wildcat to share how swim has impacted their lives.

The Wildcat: Why did you join swim?

Stephanie Franks: “I had gotten a concussion in volleyball and I decided to swim because I knew I wouldn’t get hurt and it helped that I had an older brother in swim.”

W: How has your family impacted your swimming experience?

Stephanie: “My family is super involved and supportive, and I have been on the swim team with both of my brothers, who helped me with a lot of the skills.”

W: How long have you been swimming?

Stephanie: “I have been swimming my whole life, when I was six months old my parents put me in swim lessons.”

W: How have you improved over the years?

Stephanie: “Back then, I wasn’t able to do a flip turn. I didn’t know what a 100 was. I didn’t know how to dive going into my sophomore year. So I definitely think going from that to a 1:03 on my 100 [meter] freestyle is pretty insane.”

W: What was your most embarrassing moment in swim?

Stephanie: “The most embarrassing thing was when I didn’t know how to dive and I was just belly flopping, but I think that embarrassment made me want to learn how to dive even more.”

W: What are your biggest strengths as an athlete?

Stephanie: “One of my strengths is that I don’t give up and I persevere even when things get tough.”

W: What’s the most challenging part of swim?

Stephanie: “The mentality is the hardest part because you have to find a balance between not being nervous and caring.”

W: How has swim impacted your life?

Stephanie: “Swim has brought me my closest friends, and I don’t think I would have the friendships that I have now without swim.”

W: What are your hobbies outside of swim?

Stephanie: “When I am not swimming I love to bake and I recently got back into reading.”

W: In what way do you want people to remember your career in the pool?

Stephanie: “I want people to remember me as a mentor and as someone who would talk to all the girls to make sure they felt included.”

The Wildcat: What is the best part of swim?

Kyle Franks: “I like how I can eat whatever I want and I don’t have to worry about gaining weight.”

W: Who is your biggest inspiration?

Kyle: “My brother because he works really hard for the things he wants and he never gives up on what he wants.”

W: Do you have any pre-race rituals?

Kyle: “I play games and focus on staying in a good mood because you do much better in a race when you’re not nervous.”

W: What advice would you give to others interested in swim?

Kyle: “Find a way to have fun with it because swim is a mental challenge and at times it will be hard but you always have to try your hardest.”

W: What’s your goal for the season?

Kyle: “My goal is to break the school record for the 50 [meter] backstroke. Right now the record is 52.38 seconds and my time is 55.8 seconds.”

W: What’s your biggest highlight of your high school swim so far?

Kyle: “During a meet we played the game spikeball and it was so fun and it’s something I will always remember.”

W: What sets you apart from other swimmers?

Kyle: “I like a good challenge and I compete against the other swimmers even during practices.”

W: What’s your biggest achievement so far?

Kyle: “Hitting 55 seconds in backstroke, because that gave me the confidence to go for the school record.”

W: What is your favorite thing to do after a meet?

Kyle: “I like going out with my friends or family to eat or just going straight home and taking a long nap after a hard meet.”

W: What’s your favorite event?

Kyle: “I like doing the relays because you work more as a team which I really enjoy.”