Kiara Classen takes part in swimming, cross country, and track; she loves kids and photography.
Photo by Mia Nogueira
“It’s so relaxing. You don’t have to listen to anybody. When you are in the water it’s like you are all by yourself,” said Kiara Classen, who has been a part of the Thomas Jefferson Swim Team since her freshman year. At Classen’s last meet she reached a big accomplishment by having a time of 6:45 in the 500 distance, beating her last score by 15 seconds! Classen also takes part in the IM all stroke 50, an exercise that includes the backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, and freestyle.
Classen has been enjoying the sport of swimming every since she was a little kid. “When I was three I started swimming,” said Classen. “I was on the Hampden Heights swim team because it was in the neighborhood.” Classen’s passion for swimming began at a young age, and she plans on making it last for a while. “I would love to make swimming a career. I actually coach now at Hampden Heights for kids in first grade to fourth,” said Classen.
Classen is really delighted that she has continued her swimming and joined the girl’s team at TJ.“I really enjoy it because of the coaches we have, Ms. Cindy, Ms. Nobles, and Ms. Witulski,” said Classen. “I like Ms. Cindy because she is just so out of the ordinary, and Ms. Witulski likes to mix up our workouts, which is hard, but makes it interesting.”
Classen says she also enjoys being a TJ swimmer because of the girls on the team. “We all get along pretty well, and on nights before our meets we all come together for dinner. We like to play games, apples to apples, which is a very fun card game, is a favorite and it’s just a time for all of us to goof off,” said Classsen.
Not only is Classen a swimmer but she is also is a great runner. “I am on the track team and I run cross-country. I just love how the teams are like my family,” said Classen. “For track I do the mid distance, shot put, and discus throw,” said Classen. “In cross country we all do the 5k races, my fastest time is 21 minutes.”
When her coach, Wendy Doyle, was asked to comment about Classen and her work on the team there were only positive things to say. “At the end of the year I always give awards; for Kiara I gave her one that said determination and hard worker,” said Doyle. “She is a hard worker and always keeps going, even if she has a bloody nose in a race.”
Classen shared her favorite memory of being on the track team and showed how she lived up to Doyle’s award. “We were out in the mountains doing a race, and at the beginning of the course was a huge tree right in the middle,” said Classen. “Me and another racer were going along and she accidentally elbowed me into the huge tree. I went face first into the tree and my nose started to bleed. I didn’t know what to do because we were in the middle of nowhere, so I just kept running. When I got to the finish line I had blood all over my clothes and shoes, it really freaked Ms. Doyle out,” Classen laughed. “Everyone was so surprised that I kept running, but I didn’t want to stop.”
Being on a sports team is something that Classen has always known, so it is no surprise that balancing her schoolwork and friends comes naturally. “I’ve been doing a sport since I was a kid; keeping up with schoolwork has never really been a problem for me,” said Classen. “I will do my homework when I get home from practice; it never seems like it’s too late for homework.” Classen says that her hardest class is Physics, with Nelson Vore, but he is always willing to help so it makes it easier for her. Classen’s favorite classes during her junior year at TJ have been Photojournalism and AP Con Law and Government.
“I like Poole’s class because he makes things funny and interesting,” said Classen. “He also likes to make fun of me when I dress up for the spirit days, which is always funny to hear what he has to say.” Classen says she also enjoys photojournalism because she likes the idea that one can capture something and keep it for a long period of time. “My favorite photo that I have taken would be when I went to Monterey Bay and captured a picture of an anemone. I liked it because it was pink and just so colorful,” said Classen.
Classen is also a counselor at Balarat this year and says she really enjoys it. “I love kids, they make me laugh so, doing Balart is a blast,” said Classen. “I will always remember on my first trip, this particular kid because he was just so cute! He was so little and had freckles all over is face and was really pale. He barley spoke English but he was just so adorable. I have been doing this program since second semester of my sophomore year, and I cant wait to keep doing it my senior year,” said Classen.
Not only does Classen do sports and keep up with her schoolwork, but she also does some volunteering. On January 23 there was a 2012 class fundraiser that Classen helped out with. The fundraiser was called the Yeti Chase and was a 5k and 10k running race. Classen says that she was there to support her class and she did so by making hot cocoa and cup-of-noodles for the racers. She is also helping out her local church and helps teach the Sunday school.
“I help out at my church, called the Denver First Church of the Nazarene,” said Classen. “I sometimes help teach the Sunday school classes and I also am apart of the band. I sing the worship songs for the band with one of my friends. We also go to an event at UNC in Greely, where we compete with bands from other states. My band has been ranked in the top three groups, which means we can go to nationals, but we never have money to go,” Classen laughed.
Classen says she would describe her life as very busy but also says she wouldn’t change anything about it.
