ANA NEFF-JENDRASKO, Sophomore—Swimming

• Class B state champion, 200 individual medley

• Class B state champion, 100 backstroke

• All-Conference, first team, 200 IM

• All-Conference, second-team, 200 medley relay

• All-Conference, third-team, 100 backstroke

After a triumphant debut a year ago, Neff-Jendrasko was even better this winter and took home a pair of individual state championships.

Neff-Jendrasko, a South Portland resident, started swimming at the age of eight and in her first year at McAuley, she won the Class B 200 individual medley and placed second in the backstroke.

This winter, Neff-Jendrasko, who also competes with the Portland Porpoise club team, had no peer.

Neff-Jendrasko showed skill across the board, excelling in all four strokes. By the time the postseason rolled around, she was ready to exceed last year’s glory. At Southwesterns, Neff-Jendrasko won the 200 IM in 2 minutes, 13.28 seconds. She lowered her time to 2:12.6 at the state meet, as she repeated as champion in that event, and she added a title in the backstroke (1:00.52). She was one of just three girls to win multiple titles at the Class B meet.

“I’m very happy with my season,” said Neff-Jendrasko. “My goal was to repeat in the IM and I wanted to improve in the backstroke. The people I surround myself with motivate me. My teammates were very supportive and the coaches developed a great team.”

Neff-Jendrasko, who swims every morning and works out at the gym an hour a day, hopes to win more championships and continue to lower her times in her final two seasons, then compete at the college level.

Her legend is just beginning. Ana Neff-Jendrasko, McAuley’s Winter Athlete of the Year, has demonstrated that hard work and commitment can carry you a long way.

Coach Sean Flaherty’s comment: “Only a sophomore, Ana successfully defended her title in the individual medley, swimming’s toughest event to defend. Many great swimmers can master three strokes, but it’s rare to find an athlete who’s both technically sound and simply fast at all four. Her versatility is a testament to her hard work. She doesn’t have a weak stroke or event. She’s one of the most coachable athletes I’ve worked with. She listens, learns and then she helps her teammates. She commands great respect from her teammates and competitors, not because she’s a talented swimmer, but because she’s genuinely a true sportswoman. Her positive attitude is infectious. Her success is a result of her true love for swimming and that raises the bar for everyone around her.”

Previous winners:

2013-14: Allie Clement (basketball)

2012-13: Allie Clement (basketball)

2011-12: Alexa Coulombe (basketball)

2010-11: Rebecca Knight (basketball)

2009-10; Alexa Coulombe (basketball)

2008-09: Kristen Desrosiers (swimming)

2007-08: Kristen Desrosiers (swimming)

2006-07: Abby Wentworth (basketball)

2005-06: Ashley Cimino (basketball)

2004-05: Tara Beaulieu (basketball)

2003-04: Katie Donnelly (track)

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter:@foresports.

Sidebar Elements

---

Neff-Jendrasko