Being the best is often a double-sided coin. One gains valuable confidence if they consistently perform at an elite level, but it is also important to remember to continue to progress and never settle.
The Lakeland swim team stands out as a top program in Idaho. A significant contributing factor to the Hawks’ success has been the performance of the Mamola siblings, Michael, a freshman, and Makena, a junior.
Both Mamola siblings have taken home the title of the 2023 Idaho 4A state champions. They both have set examples that others wish to follow.
“100 percent they are influences… the records that they have broken made me believe that I can,” freshman Payton Barker said.
Makena has set multiple records that others, including teammates, strive to keep up with. Michael supports others and believes that anyone can perform at his level.
“Michael is just like his sister,” Peyton Davis said. “He pushes people to be the best they can be.”
The Hawks’ boys’ and girls’ swim teams traveled to South Idaho. The boys’ team placed second, and the girls’ placed seventh.
“Our experience was great,” Makena Mamola said. “Everyone was excited… It was amazing to be a part of a team that worked so hard together.”
Similar to his sister, Michael Mamola is extremely grateful for his time on the swim team.
“I had a lot of fun swimming with my teammates, and I can’t wait to do it again next year,” Michael Mamola said.
At state, Makena Mamola brought home not just one, but two state championships, breaking school and even state records. These occurred in the 500m freestyle and the 200m freestyle.
“I know we all worked hard to be there, and I am so proud to have swum against a pool of such hard-working girls,” Makena Mamola said.
After posting the top freestyle time in Idaho’s history, she still stays humble and supportive of others. Sportsmanship could be the most vital thing in sports, and it is the hardest thing to master. Makena’s constantly positive personality sheds just a little bit of light on how great a person she is.
“She is very dedicated to swimming but is still a very nice person and very easy to get along with,” Cooper Friddle said.
Michael was also able to achieve incredible feats at the state championships. He surpassed all others and pulled out the win in two events as well. He won the 200m freestyle and the 500m freestyle just like his sister.
“I am happy I was able to pull through with a win… I wouldn’t be able to do it without my senior boys on my relay team. I look up to those guys,” Michael Mamola said.
Even as a state champion, Michael Mamola has a number of teammates he considers role models. Humbleness must run in the blood of the Mamola family, as they always credit others before themselves.
Michael Mamolas is only a freshman, showing that he has enough talent and has trained hard enough to beat out people who are years older than and more experienced than him. But Michael Mamolas is a walking representation of “hard work pays off.”
Always striving for progress, Michael Mamola wishes to improve on his times and earn another gold medal next season. The Idaho freestyle record-holder Makena Mamola has one final year of high school and has the potential to better her time.
Both Michael Mamola and Makena Mamola have the opportunity to swim for USA Swimming, one of the highest honors that can be achieved by a youth swimmer. They will have the opportunity to compete against some of the best from around the country.
Proving that one does not have to be from a big city to succeed, the Mamola twins are proudly emerging as elite swimmers from the small town of Rathdrum, Idaho.
Both believe that they can go farther and swim after their high school years. They both have plans on what they want to do with swimming if they do not quite make it professionally.
Makena Mamola will keep swimming just for fun and to bring back memories.
Michael Mamola will keep swimming because it tends to give great health benefits and will keep him in shape.
Both Mamola siblings are very proud to be with Lakeland and had the chance to be a crucial component of a fantastic era of swimming at LHS.
