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03/19/2023 05:02 AMJonah Kehew was always drawn in by the incredibly encouraging community within the waters and walls of competitive swimming, and it was that homely atmosphere that helped push him to great heights following a change of scenery.
The Hand boys’ swimming and diving co-op team senior captain first swam as a team of one at Old Saybrook High School as a freshman, before transferring to Hand as a sophomore. Then, as a junior in his first season of in-person meets post-COVID, Kehew had two top 12 finishes at the Class M State Championships in the 100 butterfly (time of 54.95 for 11th place) and 100 backstroke (53.58 for 4th place). He was also a member of the 200 medley relay team, placing second that evening to earn an All-State Team spot.
This senior season, Kehew has served as a solid and sound captain and helped guide the Tigers to a sixth-place showing at the SCC Championship on March 1, as he was part of all three relay squads that each posted a top 4 finish at the event. Individually, he additionally finished fifth in the 100 butterfly and third in the 100 backstroke to additionally make the All-SCC Team.
“I always loved the swimming community; everyone has been wonderful company and people to be around,” says Kehew. “It has taken a lot of sacrifice to get here, along with dedicated effort. Overtime, I realized I wanted to be someone who could contribute to the team. I started lifting and did whatever I could to reach my athletic peak. When I stand behind the blocks, I cannot help but smile. I would not trade it for anything, and it is crazy to see how far I have come.”
Kehew’s journey to Hand actually first took root in his freshman year, as he trained with members of the Tigers’ team while representing the Rams. He recalls it was an exchange at an outdoor function with his future teammates where he was assured that he was making the right decision to move.
“I knew a few people on the Hand team, and I really felt a connection to the team,” he says. “I saw they really cared about creating a team environment. At an outdoor party during COVID, I looked at one of the swimmers from Hand and told him I would be transferring. He smiled at the news, and I announced it to the team. The cheer was so loud, and I felt right there that I made the right choice.”
One of the tougher competitions in swimming can be on the fly, per Kehew, and he has extended his span deeper into the stroke. Yet while he also enjoys a solid backstroke, he additionally added to his repertoire this winter and kept the spice of swimming life going.
“[Former Hand boys’ swimming Head Coach] Christina Forristall noticed I could succeed in the butterfly, but it is demanding and the movements in it are dynamic. I avoided the 200 butterfly until last year, yet I was better at it than I thought,” says Kehew. “I am never smiling more than when I am doing the 100 backstroke. I also did the 200 IM this year, as [Head Coach Scott Butler] saw we needed to fill a spot in that event, and I have seen success with it. The variety of events keeps it exciting; there is excitement knowing you have to keep going after swimming what you think was your best race.”
Kehew had a leg up in terms of captain’s experience, previously serving as a swim coach at the Old Lyme Country Club. He also knew from his own personal experience only a few years ago that he needed to make it a point of emphasis as a leader to welcome others.
“Every time I have seen a swimmer drop time or qualify for the postseason in an event, it makes me feel proud,” Kehew says. “With myself transferring from Old Saybrook, it gave me perspective of how much inclusion matters for guys new to a team. I make the newer guys feel like a part of the same family, even if they are from another town. I also want to push and encourage them.”
The sentiment is certainly not lost at all upon his teammates or Butler, who proclaims that as much as Jonah is dedicated to personal accolades, he is equally committed, if not more, to his squad.
“Jonah has not just led in the water, as he has been the best all-around captain a head coach could want,” says Butler. “He has surpassed all of the expectations that I had, both in the water and as a leader. He is the first one to practice each day, the first one ready to start, the first in the water, the first to help explain a workout to a teammate who has questions about the workout set, and the first to cheer on his teammates during races. We will truly miss his leadership next year. I cannot wait to see where Jonah’s path takes him, as I am certain he will be successful no matter where and what he does.”
As Kehew looks to persist with his journey of swimming beyond graduating from Hand, he exclaims that no matter the path he produces, he is optimistic about the outcome of whatever choices he makes.
“I am looking to go to college next year and continue swimming, because I do not know what I would do without swimming,” says Kehew. “I know that no matter where I go, I will have made the right choice. [Junior co-captain] Elliot Lee keeps pushing me to establish myself as a stronger swimmer, and I look to have better form and be more fluid in the water. I cannot thank Coach Butler enough for his support, and I feel I have a great future ahead and feel positive about it.”