College: University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

Major: Undecided 

Swim cap on, goggles tight, Zoe Chalfant readies to take the block. Racing lap after lap, Chalfant swims towards the end of senior year, but she’s not diving in blind. Chalfant has been swimming competitively since age 7, and swim lessons before that. When she started freshman year, Chalfant joined the girls’ swim and dive team.

Chalfant swam all four years at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHAA) Girls Swimming & Diving Championship, placing fourth in the 100-yard Breaststroke this year. 

“I had a great time [in] my four years swimming at [KHS],” Chalfant said. “Freshman year we had this great group of seniors and juniors who made the team really fun, and ever since then, I wanted to keep that for everyone else.”

Chalfant said swimming has had a positive effect on her. She said the close bonds of friendship formed through harsh workouts and proximity have stuck with her, and that swimming has become a large part of her life and her personality. 

“[Swimming] keeps me busy and active,” Chalfant said. “I can use it as an excuse to not do things I don’t want to do. It really has impacted my life for the better.”

Throughout her high school career, Chalfant’s sister, Izy Chalfant, freshman, said she has been a strong positive force both in the water and as an advocate for the team’s community. She also said that swimming on the KHS team with her sister has helped their relationship grow. 

“[Swimming] gave us more time to spend together, [and] we got to learn more about each other,” Izy said. “I feel really proud of her. It’s good to see that her work is paying off.”

Following a four-year career at KHS, Chalfant has signed to swim for University of Wisconsin–Green Bay (UWGB). At UWGB, Chalfant has not decided on a major, but she said she is leaning towards studying Business Administration. 

“I’m so excited,” Chalfant said. “I cannot wait to be done with high school and skip to college. I [am] really looking forward to building another family there too, like I have here.”