By Araceli Galarza Posted April 26, 2019
When kids get into swim they normally have even the basic concept of how to move their arms and legs in order to stay afloat. Evan Jeppsen, a senior on the swim team does not. The only way he stays afloat is with the help of his lucky floaties.
“I don’t know how to swim. So when I put them on I just instantly can swim. I tried swimming once without them and it took them 10 minutes to fish me out of the deep end,” said Jeppsen.
Everyone has been incredible in the way they have supported and everyone has fallen in love with the boy who can’t swim. At practice, while others struggle to stay afloat, Jeppsen comes in at ease. People have even called Jeppsen ‘Winnemucca’s own dolphin tale’.
Head coach Shelby Ruff is happy with Evan and how far he’s come.
“We have to get special permission from NIAA for Evan to be able to wear his floaties but he has put in a lot of hard work and the opposing teams have been really great,” said Ruff.
However, Jeppsen does face some difficulties.
“Lately we’ve been focusing on some of the finer points of technique and conditioning when we use kickboards the floaties are no big deal but having to work on flip turns and starts and finishes, it’s underwater and that can be really hard with that extra buoyancy added,” said Ruff.
Evan has been working twice as hard as a normal swimmer. He is doing well and the school and community will continue to cheer him on. Evan might even eventually learn to swim without the use of his floaties.
