Sebastian River's Louis St. Petery wins TCPalm's Athlete of the Week

Nov 09, 2024

Congratulations to the latest TCPalm Athlete of the Week: Louis St. Petery from the Sebastian River boys swim team.

The Sharks junior garnered 53.98% of the vote in the Treasure Coast Newspapers' online poll held after the Oct. 21-26 playing period. The poll is proudly sponsored by Audi Stuart.

St. Petery won the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard breaststroke while swimming a leg in a pair of victorious relay events during the District 10-3A meet.

He since added more wins to his total, claiming first in 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke and participating in the team's victory in the 200-yard medley relay during the Region 4-3A meet.

Learn more about the junior in and out of the pool from his conversation with sports reporter Patrick Bernadeau. The interview was conducted on Nov. 5 Check back online later for more winners and future chances to vote in the next TCPalm Athlete of the Week poll.

Swimming and Diving:Treasure Coast performers set to hit the pool for 3A and 4A State championships

Previous winner:Martin County swimmer Julia Murphy has the right mindset

TCPalm: We're coming off your performance at regionals. How does it feel to be performing well heading to states.

St. Petery: "It feels pretty good. The four other guys, the relay team, we didn't shave (time) at all. We did shave last year, but this year we're feeling fast so we're going to save our shave for states. And the fact that we still performed well, I think it speaks volumes for how much better we're going to perform at states this year. Individually, I almost matched my time from last year in both my events and actually went faster in the 100 fly. I'm feeling really good this season."

TCPalm: What has helped you grow from last year?

St. Petery: "I felt like I've grown a lot from last season, especially over the summer with the club team, training, doing all the long course. It's really helped me."

TCPalm: With your training, did you enter this year with a particular goal in mind?

St. Petery: "I really want the 200 medley relay to place in the top three this year. I think we can, we have a really good chance of doing that. And also the (400 freestyle) relay, I think we can place higher than last year as well. I think we were seventh last year or eighth. And then for my individuals, I want to get first."

TCPalm: I noticed that you mentioned the relays first. Is that what you are most excited about?

St. Petery: "Yeah, I'm definitely more excited for the relays."

TCPalm: What is it about the relays that has your excited, and what is it about the cast of characters that makes you guys such a strong bunch?

St. Petery: "We're all in the same class, we're all juniors this year. We also swim the same club team, the same high school, so we're really close and we have a chance to do something special this year and next year. Next year as seniors, we can make it happen."

TCPalm: One of those people within the group is your brother (Lee St. Petery). What is it like sharing the stage and the pool with him?

St. Petery: "It's funny, because he actually was the reason I started to swim. We're twins. I went to a swim meet, I think it was right after COVID, and he inspired me. I went to the meet and saw the kids and him and was like, 'I think should be doing some sports, too. Swimming, I would like that.'"

TCPalm: COVID really wasn't that long ago. Currently, you're one of the area's best, if not the area's best swimmer. How were able to get so good in a such a sort amount of time?

St. Petery: "I've always considered myself to be athletic. I played a lot of sports growing up. I really focused on my technique for the first two years, and now it's about incorporating the strength and the dry land into the swimming training. I started that last year and it's been going great."

TCPalm: Was there a moment when you realized early on that you could be good at this?

St. Petery: "I was a year-and-a-half in the swimming, and when I was about to turn 15 years old, I started to match the other three kids on the relay team during practice. I was like, 'Yeah, I can keep up with these guys, and they're already pretty fast.'"

TCPalm: I got few questions about your teammates. Who's the funniest teammate?

St. Petery: "The funniest teammate is Silas (Daut). And Steffano (Mazzi). It's both of them combined."

TCPalm: Who is the most competitive teammate?

St. Petery: "Either Lee or myself."

TCPalm: "Who is the most underrated teammate that not enough people are talking about?"

St. Petery: "Probably Steffano."

TCPalm: This is could be either a teammate or an opponent, but who brings the most out of you?

St. Petery: "It would Steffano or Silas"

TCPalm: Lastly, some questions that have nothing to do with swimming. If you could have one thing to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?

St. Petery: "I would have salmon."

TCPalm: If you could have one superpower, what would that be?

St. Petery: "I would want to fly"

TCPalm: What's on your music playlist?

St. Petery: "I have a lot of rap, but it switches. I have some pop songs, too."

Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at [email protected].

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