Boys Swimming and Diving Co-Captain Ethan Zhu ’26 entered the swimming world at seven years old, transitioning from beginner lessons to competitive meets in just two years. Since joining Andover, he has become a leader both in his actions and his words.
Zhu was particularly influenced by his first coach, Coach Juris, who left with him an enduring legacy. He explained that he tries to lead the team in a way that reflects Juris’s style.
“Coach Juris started training me at my local YMCA when I was ten, all the way up until I left for here. Unfortunately, he passed away two years ago, so I am trying to carry on his legacy by being both a great coach and a person I could talk to. As a coach, you have to be strict, especially with little kids, and push them on discipline. So, he was a lot stricter when I was younger, but as I’ve grown older, he’s become a lot more knowledgeable about the work you need to do. He was like ‘I’ve taught you the skills necessary to succeed, so I’m not going to always be there to monitor you guys.’ That is the leadership that I want to have in the sense that I want to help and guide people who are new and inexperienced in the sport, but also to give freedom to people who probably need to do their own things,” said Zhu.
Whether skilled or just starting, having a shared end goal brings Boys Swimming and Diving together, and Zhu excels at creating a community where everyone is accepted. Zhu highlighted the primary responsibilities he feels are necessary as captain.
“You want to set a good example for people who are new to the sport. Many people who join the team are inexperienced. As captains, you want to make sure that everyone is getting equal treatment in terms of what we should be doing during practice, how we should prepare for a meet, and that everyone is holding up their own responsibilities. A big part of a big team is making sure everyone is included and welcome, and that we are part of this big family,” said Zhu.
Zhu provides advice and walks players through strategy, striving to be a mentor for his teammates. Jay Wei ’27 walked through how Zhu supported the team when needed.
“He has always been a great mentor for everyone. When you are about to race, he will be very encouraging, and he is also very good at giving feedback on your swims. If you ever need help with what to work on in practice or what to focus on, you go straight to him, and he will give you loads of feedback. Ethan isn’t the most vocal leader, but he definitely is a huge part of the team. He is just an excellent training partner,” said Wei.
Ian Kim ’28 elaborated on how Zhu’s encouragement uplifts the team, actively motivating his teammates and instilling team spirit.
“[Regardless of] if it is a long Wednesday practice or an optional Saturday practice, he is always there leading by example. He keeps everyone’s energy up and motivates people. Sometimes, at the start of practice he will get everyone to calm down and then get ready for the next thing we are doing. He is just really supportive to everyone on the team,” said Kim.
Zhu wants to continue swimming in college next fall. He shared that while he is not recruited, swimming will remain a sport that is incorporated in daily life moving forward.
“I am not a recruit, but I really do want to continue the sport. It gives a lot of structure to my life. Obviously, it doesn’t have to be competitive, as there are many recreational clubs that exist in colleges, and you can always be a walk-on. You can always just try and prove yourself on another team,” said Zhu.
