Thomas Caps '22 just became the third student at Le Jardin Academy to qualify for junior nationals! That's more than any other school in Hawaii! Thomas, Alana Barthel, and Luke Faurot will be headed to Austin, TX in early December to represent the swim team Aulea at the competition. At last week's Bill Smith Invitational, Thomas qualified in the 200 breast, setting a new Hawaii swimming record in the 13-14 age group, and is now ranked No. 1 in the nation in his age group for this event. He also broke a 13-14 record in the 100 breast, breaking a 42-year-old record.

As for what's next for Thomas, "I want to get into a college with a good swim team because from what I can tell, the friendships you make in your teammates, and the facilities that are given to you in college allow you to push yourself to reach new limits." But until then he says, "I like to keep a low profile and focus on the process, instead of getting caught up in my future as an athlete, so as to not set any expectations. Maybe I will make the team. Maybe I won't. Giving up, however, is never an option."