Senior Spotlight: Matthew Smith

Matthew Smith has always loved the water, and self-taught himself, with his parents' assistance, how to swim, by the age of six.  He first began competitive swimming with the Sussex Community Otters at the age of 10 and participated for about three seasons winning dozens of colorful ribbons.  After a hiatus, he rejoined the team after they merged with the Makos and has swam the past two summers, learning all the strokes, but excelling with the breast stroke.  He loves participating in team medleys, too.  The past two years Matthew joined the Sussex Central High School Golden Knights' swim team and with his teammates set a school record for the mixed boys medley last year, and being voted "Most Improved Swimmer", and during the Henlopen Conference swim championships in February 2023 he set the individual breast stroke record for Central with a 1:04:55 time.  He placed second in that event and qualified for the state tourney in Newark for the second year in a row.  This is his favorite memory from swimming, receiving his medal for this accomplishment, something he worked for all season.  

Matthew would like to either join the US Navy or US Coast Guard (and pursue a career as a 'Rescue Swimmer'), or attend Delaware Technical Community College and pursue a tradesman degree.