Meet A Bulldog: Cal Lewis

When you first meet Nash Central senior Cal Lewis, his size and stature would most probably prompt you to expect that he is a talented football player or even a basketball star. This, however, is far from the truth, and the saying “Never judge a book by its cover” can be accurately used to describe the athletic niche of Cal Lewis.

Cal Lewis is one of Nash Central’s most gifted swimmers, and he is definitely a potent threat in the exceptionally competitive Big East conference. While Lewis does have great natural ability and skill, he humbly attributes his success to those who have helped and motivated him throughout his high school career. When asked about his successes and accomplishments at Nash Central, Lewis responded by saying, “I feel that Coach Bain has been instrumental in my success as a swimmer. He is the driving force of the team, and he is very dedicated”. In addition, when asked to share his general feelings about head Nash Central swim coach Kyle Bain, Lewis responded with a sentimental and poignant answer saying that “Coach Bain doesn’t glorify us. He makes sure that we always display humility in our successes, and I feel that this had made me a better swimmer and individual as a whole”.

Furthermore, Lewis enjoys the team aspect of swimming. Lewis described his experiences with the swim team very genuinely saying that, “We’re a great bunch. We excel in the pool, and most importantly in the classroom. The swim team is home to some of the best athletes and students Nash Central has to offer, and I wholeheartedly believe that this has motivated to achieve greatness both athletically and academically”. In particular, Lewis stated that one member of Nash Central’s swim team has been extremely influential, saying that “One of my closest friends on the team is Jennifer Jackson, who is a great motivator, and like Coach Bain is a driving force on the team”. The gracious character of Lewis was also exhibited as he said, “I probably wouldn’t be where I am in swimming if it wasn’t for Jennifer, and I definitely admire her greatly”.

Additionally, Lewis says that swimming has also helped his overall fitness and athletic build, which, of course, is certainly a positive. Most importantly, Lewis believes that swimming has helped him make an impact on his community, and this is something that should definitely be held in high regards. During the course of his high school career, Lewis has helped extensively with Special Olympics events, and he has donated a considerable amount of his time to helping special needs kids. Efforts such as these are definitely extremely commendable, and it paints a veritable picture of the type of individual that Cal Lewis really is.

In respect to the 2015-2015 swim season, Lewis undoubtedly has high hopes for not only himself but his team as a whole. Lewis feels that “The swim team will be good hands with a solid medley relay as they are constantly scoring points”. Lewis also says that “He also feels that Nash Central will have an upper hand in conference play as the Bulldogs will be able to cover more events than previous years this season, and Lewis attributed this edge to the participation and arrival of new, talented freshmen. When asked about his goals for the season, Lewis was extremely insightful, saying that “This year, I’d like to see regionals and, of course, beat Rocky Mount. States would be a dream, but we’ll just have to wait and see”.

Essentially, Cal Lewis is clearly an exemplary student at Nash Central High School, and the contributions he has made to the school as a student and a swimmer as well what he has done and continues to do to help others in his community are simply remarkable.