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Swimmer Katie Younglove Zylstra Selected to First Hall of Fame Class

Swimmer Katie Younglove Zylstra Selected to First Hall of Fame Class

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Former section champion and NCAA All-American Katie Younglove Zylstra '98 has been selected to the first class of the St. Francis Athletics Hall of Fame.

"It was amazing," said Zylstra. "I could not believe it. It is such an honor. I have never heard of anything like it so it is really exciting."

Zylstra was a winner of five individual CIF Sac-Joaquin Section events (500 free, 1996-98; 100 fly 1995, 1998) and helped lead the Troubies to three CIF Sac-Joaquin Section titles (1995, 1997, 1998) during her time on campus.

"My favorite memories are my friends and the camaraderie," said Zylstra. "I still keep in touch with a lot of the girls. I had such an amazing high school experience. St. Francis just felt like a family. Getting into the spirit of St. Francis and Homecoming week. Every time we drive by I tell the girls I hope you want to go to school here."

Zylstra and her husband, Nick, have three children including daughters Mae and Grace and son Koop.

Katie started in the water early. Her great aunt had a swimming pool and she had access to the next door neighbor's' pool. But it was her best friend Leah who got her into competitive swimming and she began year round training as a 12-year old.

She remembers an early interaction with her club coach at Rio del Oro Debbie Myers, a former Olympic medalist.

"She said you could be really good if you worked hard at it," recalled Zylstra. "I never made the connection that it was not just fun playing around in the pool. It was an ah-hah moment for me."

The dedication to succeed in swimming matched her personality and she thrived in the pool for the Troubadours

"I was always driven athletically and academically. Looking back it was maybe on the too much side and not balanced as much as other kids. It wasn't hard for me.

She was a three-time Sacramento Bee All-City selection and earned High Schjool All-America honors in the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle every year. She won the 200 fly at the 1995 Junior Nationals and competed at both the 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

The Trials were a highlight for her among her many swimming successes. But neither led the ultimate goal.

"It was cool," said Zylstra of her two Olympic Trial performances. "I was not very close (to making a team). I did not swim my best at those meets which was really disappointing. As a kid you grow up thinking you can do this. I would put my goals on my wall with my times. I was really bummed but felt so honored to just be there and compete with people who went to the Olympics. They treat you like a star. All the athletes get treated like superstars. It is humbling."

Zylstra, who swam for California Capital Aquatics in Roseville, was highly recruited out of St. Francis and had many options. But she made a connection at UCLA with the team and wanted to stay in the California sun.

"I visited a lot of schools on recruiting trips," said Zylstra. "I was use to warmer weather and I wanted to swim outdoors. I really jelled with the team at UCLA and it was close enough but far enough away from home."

It also allowed her parents to attend almost every meet of her career. It proved beneficial at one of her Pac-10 Conference meets. Her dad, her biggest supporter, was very invested in the stats and scoring involved in swimming and his diligence helped the Bruins on that day.

"We were at the Pac-10 championship and Arizona won the meet," recalls Zylstra. "My dad had done a spreadsheet of the meet and he showed the Pac-10 officials they had made a mistake on the diving scoring. The change in points gave us the points for the win. It was amazing and exciting. John Wooden came to talk to the team and autographed a picture for my dad. It was really special, getting the "Pyramid of Success" signed by John Wooden. It was thrilling."

Zylstra earned All-America honors three different seasons in the pool for UCLA, finishing her career with the 2nd fastest times in UCLA history in both the 100 and 200 butterfly. She was awarded Verizon Academic All-America third team honors as a junior and first team honors as a senior, graduating with a 3.84 GPA and received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship.

Today the only swimming she does is with her kids in the pool.

"I really like swimming but we are so busy it just takes too much time," said Zylstra, who lives in Midtown with her family. "My exercise is running out the front door. My life now is so separated from that it feels like a different life. My husband and a lot of my friends now do not know me as a swimmer. It is hard to even believe it was part of me."

Now she is an Academic Intervention Specialist at Churchill Middle, where she went to school, and at Cowan Fundamental, splitting her days. Overall she has been in classrooms and working on intervention.

"I love working with kids in small groups because you really get to see the growth that they make," said Zylstra of her current passion. "I work with kids who struggle so it is nice to watch them make progress and build their confidence. Hopefully I get them going so they can thrive in their classrooms."

Zylstra looks back on her St. Francis experience fondly.

"I have a memory of Sister Catherine coming to a section championship in her habit," said Zylstra. "She was the sweetest women I have ever met. It was honor to have her there and she came to support the team and be there. It was really special. It epitomized St. Francis, a community where everyone is behind you and cares."

Zylstra will be inducted as part of the inaugural Hall of Fame Class on November 17 at 6 p.m.