Celia Gallagher ’21
Ella Sundstrom ’21
As a junior on the EA girls’ Swim team, Riley Pujadas has made her mark not only on EA’s team, but also on the global stage at the World Junior Swim Competition. Pujadas started swimming when she was only three years old and joined a local swim team when she was six. Though she began her time at EA as a sophomore, she was unable to participate in meets within the Inter-Ac league. Coming from Agnes Irwin, it is an Inter-Ac rule that athletes cannot compete in league meets the first year they transfer from one Inter-Ac school to another.
Despite this setback, Pujadas says that getting to know her teammates and being welcomed by the team are some of her favorite memories on the team.
On the team, Pujadas takes on a diverse role as she swims backstroke, freestyle, and the 200 individual medley (IM).
Pujadas also comments on the coaching staff, led by Head Coach and Director of Aquatics at EA, Brian Kline, who Pujadas says, “Knows how to motivate and prepare for a great season.” Throughout Kline’s 24 years at EA, he says he has “tried to build a great Lower School but also a great Middle all the way up through the Upper School.” He shared that the swim team “has had some pretty great success,” leading them to break almost every school record and winning the Eastern Championship last year and the Inter-Ac title for both girls’ and boys’ swim teams in past years.
He described Pujadas as a “welcomed addition to the team. Her contributions to the Episcopal Academy team, especially this year, are going to be magnificent.” As an athlete, he shared that “she’s a pretty versatile swimmer and she can do a lot of what we need on this team.”
Reflecting on the upcoming season with the largest team to date, Kline says, “The upcoming season is going to be amazing. On the girl’s side, we have a good balance from freshman all the way up to seniors in regards to all-around good talent.” Pujadas is also confident in her team and herself for the upcoming season, stating, “Our team is very talented and has a lot of depth, and I am very excited to help contribute where I can.”
Pujadas’s teammate, Lily Haupt ‘21, spoke about Pujadas’s team spirit stating, “She’s a really good friend, always on the sidelines cheering everybody on. It’s fun to see one of our best swimmers helping her teammates.” Haupt continued by stating that “I am really excited about the upcoming season as we have really nice lineups. We did well last year, and we’re looking to improve.”
Outside of EA, Pujadas has taken her abilities to the global level by participating in the World Junior Swim Competition, representing the Dominican Republic. Kline spoke to her accomplishments stating, “One of her major goals was to make an Olympic Trial for the Dominican Republic, which is pretty impressive. So, she went on to compete at the junior stage there and did very well.” Building on these accomplishments, Pujadas is hopeful for the success of EA’s team this year and hopes to continue swimming at the international level for the Dominican Republic.