Fresno Pacific Swim and Dive Saturday | January 24, 2015 | Senior Day

VS. The Fresno Pacific Swim and Dive programs and head coach Josh Christensen thank the following seniors for their contributions to FPU throughout their careers: Favorite Moment: “There are so many wonderful memories from my time being on this team. However, I think my favorite memory is from conference last year when I made it to finals for 1M. Teresa and I were in utter shock especially because of the competition that year. I remember being in mid bite of my lunch and dropping all of my food to run to Teresa.” - Amanda Plans After Graduation: “After graduation I plan on staying in the Fresno area and working. While working in Fresno I plan on studying to take the LSAT to get into Law School. I hope to pursue a career in entertainment law.” - Amanda Family Message: “Picture this...you enroll your 4-year-old daughter in swim lessons at the local high school natatorium. She had always been drawn to water, even in her own bathtub. You drive to the pool to up to pick her up from lessons and scan the pool to see where she is, but don’t find her. You ask the instructor, “Where’s Amanda” at which time she points and says “up there”. You look up, only to have your heart fall to your stomach as you see your “little princess” at the end of a three meter diving board. Before you can scream at Amanda Acosta her to get down, she looks at you and waves, then proceeds to jump off. You run to the side of the pool, praying she will surface soon. Las Cruces, NM Luckily, she does, swims to the side of the pool and says “That was fun! Can I do it again!” Before you can respond, she runs off and starts climbing the ladder. Thus began the diving career of our little princess. Amanda, you have made us so proud over the years, not just with your athletic ability, but with your loving personality, tenacity, intelligence and good heart. You have come so far, graduating in three years, epitomizing a student-athlete with a 3.4 GPA and achieving more than we ever expected as a diver. It has been a true joy to watch you reach your potential, academically and athletically. Way to go, Binki. We are so proud of you!” - Love, Mom, Dad and Alexis

Favorite Moment: ”My favorite moment happened last year on the girls team trip to East Bay and Santa Cruz, pretty much that entire weekend was memorable from singing Nsync in the car, to seeing Frozen in the theater, and of course trying to transport 30 subway sandwich boxes with zero trunk space. Another favorite memory was everything about my last team retreat and the ab workouts I got from laughing so much over the course of that weekend.” - Anna Plans After Graduation: “My plans after graduation are to eventually go into a two-year radiology program where I will become an X-ray radiologist, while hopefully coaching for my club team in the meantime.” - Anna Family Message: “Anna, we are so incredibly proud of the time and dedication you have shown the past 16 years of your career in swimming. It’s hard to believe it’s coming to an end. The perseverance you have shown with this sport will carry on into your adult life. We have no doubt that you will be successful in your future endeavors! Thank you for being such a wonderful and amazing daughter!” Anna Bautista Marina, CA

Favorite Moment: ”My favorite memory from my time on this team is winning the 100 backstroke at conference. The fact that I had no idea I won for like a whole minute after the race made the moment even more awesome. Also, watching Josh grow into the best coach our team could have ever asked for has been such a blessing to my life. Having a coach who cared about each one of his swimmers way beyond our times in the pool has made him the best coach I have ever had, and that memory of my college swimming career will last a lifetime.” - Katelyn Plans After Graduation: “Wait, I’m supposed to have plans after graduation? I hope to use my social work degree to work with children in the adoption agency and foster care field. Also, Im getting married in September. Whoa.” - Katelyn Family Message: “In Katie’s final year of competition, this meet brings to mind of how proud we are of Katelyn’s achievements. The 1000’s of hours on the pool deck, the countless yards swam, the NAIA victories and personal accomplishments she has obtained in the Katelyn Brown classroom and in the pool. We share Katelyn’s joy of being a Fresno Pacific Sunbird. We are thankful for the skilled coaching by Josh and Visalia, CA his team, and look forward to the many victories we know that will come!”

Favorite Moment: “I have a couple of favorite memories with the team. One of them was freshman year after our meet against East Bay when we went to San Francisco. The other one was going to Knotts Berry Farm last year after our mid-season meet. Both were super fun and a great bonding time with the team.” - Kat Plans After Graduation: “My plans after graduation include going to graduate school eventually. I want to be a sports statistician.” - Kat Family Message: “Kat, we have watched you love the water all your life (literally) and are so proud of your progress. The frustrations of new coaches every year, the excitement of competing in Barcelona as a 5 year old, the ups-and-downs of best times and improvements and not so best times. You have persevered and grown into a confident and beautiful young woman who makes us proud! We have been blessed to see you following God and leaning on Him through it all.” - Love, Mom, Dad, and your siblings Kat Lee Santa Clara, CA Favorite Moment: “I have three memories: 1. The dual meet against Bakersfield when the CSUB team was talking smack about our team, so we went there starting the meet with our girls 400 medley destroying their relay with Katie, Kendall, myself and then Sammy. 2. Being a part of two relays and breaking two of the school records in the 200 free relay and the 400 medley relay. 3. Our National Championship in 2012.” - Michelle Plans After Graduation: “After graduation, I plan on getting my teaching credentials and teach high school PE. I also plan on becoming a certified massage therapist, which has been a dream of mine for years.” - Michelle Family Message: “Michelle our Belle – We are so proud of you. From the first summer league meet at 9-years-old to this final season of swimming, watching you swim has been a joy in our lives. We have admired your determination to never quit and keep working no matter how hard. Do you know you have swum more than 10,000+ miles since 2003? No wonder you are tired! You are an amazing Michelle Morenodaughter and we cannot wait to see what your future will be. We love you with our whole hearts.“ - A.J. & C.J. 2 Tim 4:7 Rio Vista, CA

Favorite Memory: “I can’t narrow it down to one, so a few of my favorite memories are the Alaska trip my freshman year, the East Bay trip and the breakfast at that hotel, and when we went to Knotts Berry Farm.” - Kendall Plans After Graduation: “Plans after graduation include planning what I’m doing after graduation...=).” - Kendall Family Message: “We want to congratulate all the seniors. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you and watch you compete these past four years. We also want to thank Josh and Jenny for devoting so much time and energy to the program and development of each team member, not only as athletes, but to become the best person they can be. Kendall, we are so proud of your dedication to this sport and to your teammates. Your work ethic and competitive spirit will serve you well no matter what career path you choose, but it’s your deep compassion for others that sets you apart. John Wooden said, “Make every day your masterpiece.” That’s the best advice we can give. “ - Much love, mom and dad. Kendall Swanson Los Osos, CA Favorite Memory: “My favorite moment on the team was the first time we did the karate cheer, and believe it or not my first morning swim practice. Both very special moments.” - Tim Plans After Graduation: “I plan to keep swimming until the 2016 Olympics, finish my masters, pursue a career in business and entre- preneurship, and eventually take up dancing and the saxophone.” - Tim Family Message: “We would just like to say how proud we are of you on this your “Senior meet”. Your journey has had so many chal- lenges and we admire the way you have faced these head-on and given it your best shot. You have strived for excellence and perfection in both the sporting and academic fields and have achieved a lot already. It’s not just your achievements that make us glad to be part of your life, but also the fact that so many people you have met have commented on your charm and grace, and the way you have earned the respect of a multitude of friends and ‘families’ along the way.” -Love from Dad, Mum, Jen, Patty, Sarah, Andrew, Jo, Michael, your Tim Ferris other uncles, aunts, and cousins, and blessings from Fran and Benoit. Triangle, Zimbabwe Don’t worry, be happy!

Favorite Memory: “It’s not possible to choose a favorite moment without feeling like I left out something important or any person who has influenced my life that would concern team memories. However, my favorite moments are any time I made someone on the team laugh, whether in practice or at some food place, but especially Alex in the cafeteria whenever he took a bite or drink.” - Connor Plans After Graduation: “I plan to continue school and attempt to get my Master’s degree in mathematics and, God willing, teach at a Junior College level, although I’m willing to look into other shade of said pomegranate tree, eating the delicious fruit of the pomegran- ate tree, and being the best Bane I can be. BAAAAANNNNNNNNEEEEEE!!!!” - Connor Family Message: “We are so blessed Connor has become part of the FPU aquatics family...and by extension ourselves. Each member adds a part of themselves that makes the group complete. May each of you fulfill God’s plans for your lives! Connor, we love you and are Connor Greene so proud of your hard work and dedication!” - The Greene Family Merced, CA

Favorite Moment: “My favorite memories on the team are winning NAIA Nationals, and spending time with my teammates,” - Justin Plans After Graduation: “My plans after I graduate are to either go into the Marine Corps or the FBI academy.” - Justin Family Message: “Justin (JLO), Congratulations on all your accomplishments during your career at FPU, we are very proud of you. Your hard work and dedication to swimming has been inspirational and will help you to achieve great things in the future. We have enjoyed this ride immensely and we are looking forward to what the future holds for you. We are also very lucky to have been able to meet some great people (swimmers and coaches) and to be able to call them friends and we will always consider them “family”.”

Justin Lopez-Lamb Dinuba, CA Favorite Memory: “Everything.” - Marko Plans after graduation: “Start a spear fishing tourist industry in Croatia.” - Marko Family Message: “Our dearest Maki, Graduation from college has a special place in a person’s life because knowledge is one thing that can never be taken from you. That knowledge begins with the first letters written in a school notebook. It continues with effort and persistence and it ends with success. With your effort, work ethic and sport results we believe you earned the respect of your professors and your trainers—Peter Richardson and Josh Christensen and all the people who opened their hearts to welcome you four and a half years ago. Then, this world was distant and unfamiliar, however, in it you found your new home, your other family (Veiss—they love you as their own), and many friends who you rightfully now call brothers. Graduation in a life of a young man is a crown of success. It is a confirmation of your investments and abilities, and a proof of endurance on the road to self-determi- nation. The diploma is important, however, the most precious gift you received in America is the unconditional love, support and friendship you received from those around you. They made you a part of the community and not a stranger. We are certain they will forever hold a special place in your heart. You left four years ago as a playful boy with character we tried to instill in you. Your professors and trainers continued the work where we left off and they helped mold you into a responsible and hard working young man ready to face the world. To all of them we are forever grateful! The distance between Marko Tanasovski us has been difficult, but today’s accomplishment is worth all of it. We are proud of you as a student, sportsman and a young man who respects and lives Zagreb, Croatia according to God’s principles. We love you.” - Grandma, Sis, Mom and Dad (Volimo te, baka, seka, mama i tata!)