Student Athlete of the Week: Shefali Joshi

Shefali Joshi is peaking at the right time as she enters the final stretch of her Niwot High School girls swimming career.

Following her four events at the St. Vrain Valley district meet on Jan. 18, the senior shared that it was the best she felt all season. Joshi dropped times in her individual races while helping the Cougars finish second behind Silver Creek High School in the team standings.

"I think this is probably the best meet I've had this season, but I could probably do a little better," Joshi said.

Joshi, a four-year varsity swimmer, was particularly proud of her efforts in the 200-yard medley relay and 200 freestyle. In the medley relay, she joined Noemi Grooms, Mikaela Lohman, and Natalie Jordan to post a time of 2 minutes, 19.09 seconds.

"My fly felt really good," Joshi said. "I hadn't swam before that, so I was feeling stronger compared to the rest of my events."

Competing at the Mountain View Aquatic Center in Loveland, Joshi later took 11th in the 200 freestyle (2:26.66) and sixth in the 100 butterfly (1:17.08). Her best overall result came in the 200 freestyle relay, where she took fourth alongside Phoebe Donovan, Mila Barinek, and Jordan at 2:00.47.

The Cougars' Senior Day is scheduled for Jan. 21 against Boulder High School at the Aquatics Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools. Joshi anticipates a mixed range of emotions will come her way during Niwot's second-to-last home meet.

"It's definitely bittersweet," Joshi said. "I'm super excited to be graduating this year, but it's also the last season with a lot of the friends I've made here... I'm definitely going to miss the culture that we have built. It's super fun."

As one of Niwot's most experienced swimmers, Joshi has enjoyed sharing her four years of varsity knowledge with some of her younger teammates.

"I love being a role model for the younger underclassmen on the team," Joshi said. "It's super special to hang out with all the girls and be there for them and everything."

Niwot head coach Ella Thramann has appreciated Joshi's efforts to help others feel welcomed and encouraged, regardless of grade level.

"At meets, she's cheering on the girls - the freshmen and the girls who just started on the team. She's really good about that," Thramann said. "At practice, she will lead a lane or she'll make everyone go on their time. She really pushes people and leads them well in her lane.... Even as a person, she's amazing. She's such a team player and we just love her."

Thramann added that Joshi is one of Niwot's hardest-working swimmers. The end of practice doesn't always mark the end of Joshi's work in the pool, Thramann explained.

"If practice is ending early, she's still swimming," Thramann said. "She really pushes herself and does a great job at trying to compete with others, and getting up there and earning her times."

With the state championships looming, Joshi hopes to qualify for an individual event for the first time in her career. "It would be super satisfying because of all the work," she said.

Outside of the pool, Joshi has passions for technology and the arts. She's involved with Up-A-Creek Robotics, a high school robotics team based in Longmont, and The Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools.

After high school, Joshi hopes to study architecture in college.