During the blistering cold winter months, Scituate High School students typically pass the time by packing the gym to support the basketball teams or by going to the rink to cheer on the hockey squads. SHS senior Kaitlyn Capprini chooses to spend her winters in an entirely different way. Capprini isn’t throwing down 360 windmills on the court or scoring hat tricks on the ice. Capprini is found in the swimming pool, where she is constantly working to get to the next level. She is not only doing incredibly well individually, but she has also been an integral part of the overall success of the SHS swim team.

Capprini’s competitive swimming career started back when she was 6 years old at Jasper Valley, a summer pool club in her home state of New Hampshire. Through the encouragement of her mother, Capprini fell in love with the sport and was determined to become the best she could possibly be. From there, her swimming career really took off. Capprini took advantage of any opportunity presented to her that could further her swimming talents. She has been a member of the U.S. swim team ever since the young age of seven and has swam for many club teams as well, including Executive Swim Club in New Hampshire and MASK swim club when she moved to Scituate her sophomore year. She has swum competitively for both her old high school in Souhegan, New Hampshire and now here at SHS.

After achieving the outstanding freshman award at her old school, Capprini took her talents to Minot Beach and had an immediate impact on the team. Each year since coming to Scituate, Capprini has been named a Patriot League All Star. She also recorded her best time last year during States with a 25.96 in her 50 yard freestyle.

Capprini’s positive attitude and incredible swimming ability does not go unrecognized by her fellow teammates. She was even elected swim team captain by her fellow teammates this year. When asked about Capprini, fellow swim captain Leah Block, a senior at SHS, said, “She’s just an awesome person overall. She’s always supportive of everyone on the team and can kick butt in the pool.”

When discussing her final year of swimming, Capprini said, “We have a really well rounded team this year and have been doing well at all of our meets. It has been amazing to see the team grow and improve, and I have also enjoyed being one of the captains this year.” When describing her own personal performance, Capprini went on to say, “Personally, it has been fun and rewarding to work toward improving my times and reaching my goals for my last year.”

Capprini not only gets it done in the pool, but she is also an incredible scholar. Capprini truly defines what it means to be a student athlete. She has a 4.3 GPA and received the Fairfield Book Award last June. She volunteers a lot of her time teaching swim lessons and life guarding at pools over the summer. Capprini is truly a phenomenal person who is not only well-rounded regarding academics and athletics, but is also a devoted and enthusiastic leader.

Capprini hopes to continue her swimming career at the collegiate level, either on a varsity or club team. Capprini can’t imagine her life without swimming. For now, Capprini is finishing up her high school season with Sectionals at Wellesley College and States at MIT.