Kayla Nick-Kearney | Staff Writer
nickk@imail.losrios.edu
Spring is here and as swim season comes to a close, Victoria Ramirez — or Queen Victoria as she is called by some of her teammates — stands out among the swim caps and racing suits with two new school records this season alone.
According to City College swimming coach Jason Craighead, setting the 100-meter freestyle record was a goal of Ramirez’s. Earlier in the season, another student, Karie Gray, had set the 100-meter freestyle record, with Ramirez coming in a close second.
But Craighead said he was surprised when Ramirez set a record for the 50-meter breaststroke.
“I felt like it was a better event for me,” Ramirez said. “The 50 free is kind of a do or die. The 100 was a bigger challenge.”
Ramirez competed in the 50-meter freestyle race last season, as well as the 200-meter, but chose the challenge of the 100-meter freestyle.
“The one race I did OK on. The rest I was kind of blah,” a shy Ramirez responded with understated modesty when approached by a friend about her victory.
“She’s a really good swimmer, even if she says she’s not,” teammate and friend Ashley Aurich said.
Even with such respect from her teammates, the petite Ramirez almost seems to underestimate herself.
“She’s much stronger than most people realize, than she realizes,” Craighead said. “She can do more pull-ups than most of the guys on the team.”
Described as shy at first, Ramirez’s welcoming smile tells another story, and when seated next to her sister, it does.
“We usually have the funniest times when we’re really delirious,” Estrella Ramirez commented.
Craighead said that by her second season on the team, Ramirez knew everyone.
“She’s really energetic and sarcastically fun. You’re ready for a good time when you’re around her,” Aurich said.
“I get the eye roll and head shake all the time from her,” Craighead points out, as Ramirez brushes off a joke. “Sometimes she needs a personal invitation but it’s all in good fun. Maybe because I called her QV [Queen Victoria] she took on that personality.”
Despite all the fun and jokes Ramirez is serious about life, and according to her sister, afraid of not getting where she wants to go.
“Her big challenge would probably be achieving her goals and getting as far as she can in doing what she wants to do,” Estrella Ramirez said.
With all her hard work, Queen Victoria has earned all her titles and leaves many wondering which honors are to follow.
Showing her dedication, Ramirez sighs, “I just don’t remember a time when I’m not working, studying or swimming.”
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