Senior Hannah Parulan to Swim at Chapman University

Senior Hannah Parulan to Swim at Chapman University

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior swimmer Hannah Parulan will continue her career in the pool and swim for Chapman University in the fall.

"I am super excited," said Parulan. "I chose Chapman because I wanted to go to a university where I could get the best of both worlds. To me that means receiving a great education while being able to do the sport I love. Chapman offers me both of those things and so much more."

Chapman is a Division III school in the competitive Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). She will swim for Head Coach Dennis Ploessel, who is in his 23rd season directing the Panther program. They recently finished fifth at SCIAC Championships.

"The program is great," said Parulan. "I went on my official visit a few months ago and loved the team and atmosphere. I am really excited to swim in college and be part of a team. Swimming is essentially a team sport. We may swim our events individually but I think we are swimming not only for ourselves but for each other."

Parulan has been a four-year standout for the Troubadours in the pool. She finished fourth in the finals in both the 200-yard individual medley with a personal-best 2:11.91 and fourth in the 100y backstroke (1:01.11) at the Delta League Championships last week. She also participated in the fourth-place 200y IM relay and second-place 400y free relays.

"Hannah is the heart and soul of this team," said Head Coach Richard Levin, who has coached her since she was five years old with the Arden Hills Otters. "She is going to bring her spunk, her energy and work ethic to Chapman and just being a wonderful human being. They are getting a great swimmer and person."

She reached the individual finals while contributing on the relays at the 2018 Sac-Joaquin Section Championships as a junior, placing 15th overall in the 200y IM to earn Varsity Most Valuable Swimmer honors at the team banquet. She was also a finalist at the section Frosh/Soph meet as a freshman and sophomore in both the 200y IM and 100y backstroke, helping the team to the 2017 Section title.

"My favorite memory was the senior meet this season," said Parulan. "After that meet, I was still on the verge of choosing what college I was going to attend. I had great opportunities with schools where swimming was not an option. After that meet, I knew in my heart I wanted to go to Chapman to continue swimming and my academic career."

Outside of the pool, Parulan has led the Wellspring Club on campus with classmate Christina Vail, volunterring at the Wellspring Women's Center on late start days serving women and their children breakfast. They plan to continue their service over the summer before heading off to college.

She plans to study health sciences with a path towards an accelerated program towards becoming a physician's assistant at Chapman. She was inspired by her mother, who has dealt with health issues "to want to help people with illnesses and medical challenges in support and guidance for them".

Parulan and her teammates will compete at the 2019 SJS Section Championships May 4-5.

"My goal is to keep improving and really enjoy the last meet with the awesome SF team," said Parulan. "It has been a crazy roller coaster of a lot of ups but some downs during my high school swim career. I am excited to rally up and try to get a win at sections and help my team the best way possible."

Parulan will participate in the St. Francis Spring Signing Day event on Wednesday, April 17 at 8:30 a.m.