Holiday Swim Festival Poolside Chats

 Mike Stockman

Jarod Arroyo touches the wall in 1st place in 1650 at Holiday Swim Festival

TEMPE, AZ (November 30, 2018) There are times in life when one recognizes being in the presence of dedicated, focused, positive, and hard working individuals.  On November 29, 2018 at Mona Plummer Aquatics Center during the 2018 Holiday Swim Festival, I had an opportunity to chat with two athletes of that quality that shared their techniques, relationships, and their goals. I was in the presence of Jarod Arroyo and Kate McBratney, two 17 year old friends and teammates who swim for Pitchfork Aquatics based in Tempe and Mesa.

Kate commits to BYU

While Jarod was in the pool swimming and leading his heat in the 1650 event on Thursday evening, we sat pool side with Kate, a very bright and humorous Queen Creek star who recently committed to BYU.

In our interview, we found out about Kate's goals, her ambitions, and her devotion to God, family, and a future to help others reach their goals as well. She described herself as a "goofball" and after a few minutes with her I could see why her family, her coaches, and her friends look forward to the daily joke. She shared one with us at the end of the interview. Be sure to watch her interview to the end for her "joke on the spot".

As we chatted - it was difficult to stop, Jarod sat waiting after winning the 1650 event, an event he says "takes a lot of mental focus because of how much time you have to think and having to keep those thoughts focused.".

After Kate and I finished, we sat down with Jarod and had another inspiring chat. 

Jarod commits to ASU

Jarod is an impressive and positive young man with drive and focus of a highly trained athlete with personal passion for success in all areas of his life. He shared how he visualizes his races and his goals, which he keeps posted on his bedroom walls, bathroom mirror, and refrigerator.  He also spoke of his love of cooking and photography. When listening to Jarod and looking into his eyes, you can definitely see a mature person. His energy when he talked of his goals and his dreams of the future was so strong you know he will do no less than succeed at anything in life.

Jarod's interview will also be available so you can experience what we were fortunate to experience.    

Both swimmers will be performing this weekend in the Holiday Swim Festival and then getting ready for an intense, end of year schedule. 

Pitchfork swimmers will be traveling to University of Texas, Austin, Texas to participate in the USA Swimming Winter Junior Nationals being hosted by Longhorn Aquatics/USA Swimming from Dec 5-8, 2018.