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Senior Spotlight April 16th: Gavin Armstrong

Posted at 11:14 AM, Apr 15, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-22 11:38:04-04

This week’s senior spotlight features a two-time state champion who’s athletic ability has earned him a college scholarship. But Gavin Armstrong doesn’t compete on the field or on the court…but in the water.

Armstrong is an Opelousas Catholic senior who has won the 500-freestyle twice in his high school swimming career.

“Prioritizing time is definitely a big thing,” said Armstrong. “Because we practice six days a week and we’re also doing lifting twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at five in the morning. So it makes it a long day at school being up that early.”

Armstrong has been swimming competitively since he was 10. And for the last several years has been coached by City of Lafayette Aquatics (COLA) swim coach Colleen Barczyk.

“Gavin is incredibly dedicated and an incredibly hard worker. And has a really big heart,” said Barczyk.

Armstrong says Barczyk knows exactly how and when to push him and his fellow swimmers to get the most out of their talents.

“She definitely does challenge me because she knows what I can do and what I’m capable of doing,” said Armstrong. “And when I may fall short at times she’ll be like I know you can do better than that because I’ve seen it happen before.”

Gavin Armstrong is heading to Ouichita Baptist University in Arkansas in the fall on a swimming scholarship.