Abbey Miskiewicz is a member of Seneca’s swim team along with GPAC
By Melissa Riker
The Sun
Take a deep dive into the life of swimmer Abbey Miskiewicz, who has been involved in the sport since age 5.
Miskiewicz’s love for swimming was instinctual, becoming mesmerized by her first glimpse of swimmers at a local gym.
She signed up for the sport shortly after and even tried out other sports such as lacrosse, soccer and basketball, but nothing compared to how she felt in the water. Miskiewicz said it was a “no-brainer” when it came to choosing one path to pursue.
Miskiewicz is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Aquatic Club, and since age 9 she has been traveling to Sewell six days a week, while also being a member of the Seneca High School swim team.
“[Being on the team at Seneca] reminds me of how fun the sport can be and how playful it is and how competition isn’t always about winning the race or getting the best time,” Miskiewicz said.
As a part of Seneca’s option 2 program, she is able to begin her school day at around 11:30 a.m., giving her time to drive to and from swim practice each morning.
Her typical schedule requires her to wake up at 3:45 a.m., drive to and from practice for GPAC, attend school and drive back to GPAC for a second practice.
Miskiewicz said swimming takes a lot of dedication, discipline and sacrifice, and the training is different than any other sport, with only a two-week break in August.
“The most rewarding thing I’ve gained is the discipline that swimming gives you,” Miskiewicz said. “Swimming has taught me time management, it’s taught me that your teammates really are your family.”
Miskiewicz’s mother, Sally, has been supporting her throughout her swim career, and values the character development swimming has given her daughter.
“It’s rewarding for me, and for them, to see them grow,” Sally said. “I don’t care if she wins or loses, I care about the respect she shows towards her coaches and towards her teammates.”
Miskiewicz’s dedication has paid off, allowing her to break six records at Seneca that have been held since the early 2000s, to be ranked in the top 16 in NJSIAA last year and to be participating in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions this year.
In addition, she has signed with Division 1 Saint Louis University with academic and athletic scholarships, where she will be starting her journey in the fall.
She said she decided on that school due to the family aspect the swim team there provided, similar to the environments she’s currently involved in at GPAC and Seneca.
Miskiewicz will be following her career goals to become a veterinarian while at SLU, but said she will follow any professional swimming opportunities if given the chance. She said that if she aims for the Olympics, but makes trials or nationals — she will still have great accomplishments.
She said she and her teammates regularly compare their goals to the saying: If you shoot for the moon and you miss, you land among the stars.
