Hendrickson High swimmer Micaela Moncada had a good feeling about this year’s Region IV meet and it turns out her good feeling was right on the mark. For the second year in a row, Moncada won the 100-yard breaststroke and earned a trip to state.

“I went in thinking I would win,” Moncada said. “I had the fastest time going in. When the finals came there were two girls on the side in lanes three and five and they were giving it their all so I thought I didn’t have it. But I out-touched the girl and won. It was pretty exciting.”

With the win, Moncada earned a trip back to state where she competed last weekend. It was her second trip to state and she felt the experience she gained last year would help her out at this year’s meet.

“Last year I was really nervous,” she said. “I was the only one on the team who qualified and I didn’t have my best time in the prelims. I was swimming with 16 of the fastest in the states. This year I will be able to focus on what I need to do. I will have an advantage over last year.”

In the past two years, Moncada has seen her swim career take off and this fact is not lost on her.

“It was unbelievable,” she said. “I was on cloud nine for a good six months after. Colleges started contacting me and my name was out in the swimming world. I had made a name for myself and I’m still continuing to make a name for myself.”

Moncada began swimming when she was 4 years old at her daycare. A year later she joined a summer league swim team and the rest is history.

“I did so well they encouraged me to go swim for a club team,” she added.

The life of a swimmer can be a lonely one, which is something Moncada knows all too well. She works out for an hour-and-a-half before school and for two hours after. So when the chance comes for her to get in a pool and compete, she relishes it.

“I like the swim meets,” she said. “It takes a long time to prepare for a swim race, which is something that is over in two minutes. I felt like when I made it to state I got what I’d worked for. There’s not a lot of time left for anything else. When you qualify for state all that work pays off.”

While she still has one year left in her high school career, Moncada is already thinking about continuing her swim career at the next level.

“I’d like to get a swimming scholarship,” she said. “I want to be a high school or college swim coach. I enjoy being in the pool and teaching swimming. It’s a huge part of my life.”

Moncada finished 13th at state as a sophomore. She went into the meet this year looking to improve on that result, although the very fact she was competing at state again was good enough for her.

“I want to drop even more time than I did at region,” she said. “I want to place higher (than 13th). But I am already swimming with 16 of the fastest girls in the state. I think that’s an accomplishment all by itself.”

Editor’s note: Moncada finished 11th in her preliminary race at state and took third in the consolation final.