Lakewood Ranch swimmers take home state titles

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Danielle Valley and Will Kazokas knew they had something to prove long before they set foot in the YMCA Aquatic Center in Orlando.

Expectations were high for the Lakewood Ranch juniors, and in the days leading up to the FHSAA Class 2A swimming championships Nov. 12, Valley and Kazokas felt the pressure.

After all, the two had earned a combined three individual top seeds — Valley in the 200-and-500-yard freestyles and Kazokas in the 100 freestyle — and carried the weight of their team on their shoulders.

“Knowing that I’m first in both puts more pressure on me to try and go after it,” Valley said before the meet. “My goal is to win and get best times in both events.”

Kazokas agreed.

“There’s definitely more pressure,” Kazokas said. “The top three guys are all so close, so it’ll be a toss-up on who does the little things. I just want to get best times in both and score as high as I possibly can.”
Valley and Kazokas may have felt some pressure heading into the state championships; but by the time they dived into the pool for their respective races, that pressure had all but slipped away.

Within a matter of hours, Valley and Kazokas captured three state titles. Valley finished first in the 200 freestyle (1:48.17) and 500 freestyle (4:43.56) while Kazokas finished first in the 100 freestyle (45.87), edging out Paxon’s Ian Apple by 0.04 second. Kazokas also finished fifth in the 50 freestyle (21.24).

“It was really shocking at the time,” Valley said. “It means a lot to me considering, I’ve always wanted to win a state title to represent my school and my team.”

Valley edged Cece Williams, of Tallahassee Chiles, by more than a second in the 200 and easily won the 500, finishing 12 seconds ahead of Williams.

“It was really exciting to finish the 200 free and see a best time on the scoreboard, because I never thought I could go that time until it happened,” Valley said. “ But I’m also (pleased with) the 500, because I went a best time when being by myself and having to stay self-motivated throughout the whole race.”

Behind Valley’s two state titles, the Lady Mustangs scored 99 points to finish sixth overall, while the Lakewood boys team finished ninth with 85.5 points.

This year marked Valley’s third appearance in the state championships and Kazokas’ fourth, but this is the first time the two have won state titles.

However, that doesn’t mean the two, who also both swim for the Sarasota Sharks, haven’t racked up their share of accolades. The two have a combined seven school records, including relays, and have won numerous county, district and regional titles. Valley also qualified for the Olympic Trials last summer in the 400 and 800 freestyles and will compete in the trials in July.

“I don’t think I knew I got them,” Valley said of making the cut. “I’m glad I got it. I’ve always wanted to go to the Olympics.”

Valley and Kazokas have both been swimming for as long as they can remember. Valley was 4 years old when she joined her first summer league and learned how to swim.

“My mom wanted to make sure I could swim,” Valley said. “We had a pool, and she didn’t want me to drown.”

Kazokas also was 4 years old when he learned to swim. At the time, he didn’t really have a choice. Growing up along the Santa Fe River just north of Gainesville, the Kazokas family learned to recognize its local alligators. And when they were sure they weren’t interested in them, the family would jump in — or in some cases get tossed in — and swim across the river.

“It wasn’t fun when you’re 7 years old,” Kazokas said.

The two continued to swim leisurely and on the occasional summer league before joining the Sharks prior to the start of high school.

Kazokas started out doing the backstroke, finishing second in the 100 backstroke at last year’s state championships, before switching to freestyle this year.

“I wanted to try something different,” Kazokas said. “I’m fast. I’ve never been a distance swimmer. I’m really big, and most sprinters are big. I like to get in and get it over with. I have no stamina.”
Valley, on the other hand, always gravitated toward distance swimming.

“I can’t sprint,” Valley said. “It’s painful, and it’s boring, but I guess that’s why (I do it).”

Today, Valley and Kazokas train six days a week, attending both 4 a.m. morning practices followed by after school practices three days a week.

The two admit some days they would rather do anything but swim, but that’s simply not an option.
“It just gets in your blood,” Kazokas said. “You can’t stop.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].