By: Sophia Braida
AnnaLee Protasiewicz, a senior at Wallenpaupack, is a student known most for her energy, involvement, and passion. In her free time, she loves swimming, paddle boarding, photography, baking, hanging out with friends, and going on adventures. She’s involved in a wide range of activities; both in and outside of school. She swims for Paupack, the Pocono Family YMCA, and the Hemlock Hurricanes, participates in track, the yearbook club, volunteers with student council, and is part of NHS. Out of all these commitments, swimming is her favorite. For Annalee, swimming is more than a sport; it’s a place to think, test her limits, and experience the adrenaline of competing.
After high school, AnnaLee plans to attend Lock Haven University and enter the 3+2 Athletic Training Master’s program. She also intends to swim at the D2 collegiate level. Growing up loving athletics and everything surrounding sports made athletic training feel like the ideal match for her future. Although academics haven’t always been easy for her, especially math, AnnaLee has learned to push through challenges. With help from teachers, and sometimes even her younger brother, she’s proud of how hard she worked to succeed in areas that didn’t come as naturally to her.
One of her proudest achievements was making it to districts and earning medals alongside her teammates in swimming. She credits Coach Campbell, her teammates (especially her close teammate Samira Feller), her mother for constant driving and support, and Coach Colin for believing in her potential. Standing on the podium at Lens Richards with her teammates was one of her favorite and most unforgettable memories from her high school years.
For her senior year, AnnaLee is staying focused on qualifying for states in swims. She hopes to keep improving, keep competing, and keep growing as both an athlete and student. Looking ahead, she hopes to still be swimming in some capacity, but for now, her main goal is to simply finish high school strong.
