WOODBURY – Behind the blocks, during the 2023-2024 boys swimming state finals, Grace Walkup, Grace Rubacha, Olivia Bernardi, and Emily Stewart are anxiously waiting for their time to perform, being some of the only girls there. This event in particular, this group of swimmers had a good chance to break the girls 400 freestyle relay school record, but the end results were all up to Walkup.
Despite the nervousness, Walkup, being the anchor of the relay, led her teammates with her ambition and drive, to beat the record. The final scene featured this quartet of swimmers in pure jubilation, a school record in hand, and Walkup’s leadership on full display.
For leaders like Walkup, her captainship doesn’t just appear when school records are at stake, but rather one can see her qualities on the bus ride to almost all of the meets where Walkup makes sure swimmers are prepared for their races ahead of them.
“She is very motivational,” says junior co-captain Scott Viveros. “She has good connections with everyone on the team”.
Walkup always makes a point to make sure everyone is comfortable and confident before and after going up for their race.
For Walkup, the characteristics of being a leader come naturally. Now a senior, Walkup served as the field hockey captain, and now, for the winter season, Walkup has earned the label as captain of this year’s swim team as well for the second year in a row.
“It’s really an honor to be a captain,” says Walkup. “It shows that my coaches believe in me and that I can be a good leader”.
“I chose Grace as team captain junior year,” says Nonnewaug swim coach Abby Walsh, “because even as an underclassmen she showed a lot of leadership”.
Walkup’s specialty stroke is freestyle, with her main events being the 500 freestyle and the 200 freestyle. She holds four school records including the 200 freestyle relay, 500 freestyle, 200 freestyle, and the 400 freestyle relay.
In fact, Walkup has broken her own records over five times. She has proved her dedication to the sport with her determination to improve.
Walkup began swimming when she was six at the Panther Aquatic Club in Southbury. After that, she swam for the Waterbury Barracudas. These two clubs started a long and successful journey in the sports world.
Walkup started swimming at a young age, but her field hockey career began later on. She only started to play in eighth grade for Woodbury Middle School. Despite the differences in sports, guiding a team on grass had a lot of transferability with her guidance in the water.
“She is so supportive,” says freshman Payton Brown of the field hockey team who looks up to Walkup. “She made the field hockey season so enjoyable.”
Walkup is a great athlete and dedicates so much time to her sports, but she still finds time to be an outstanding student.
Throughout her tenure at NHS, Walkup is the president of Rho Kappa, member of the National Honors Society, National English Honors Society, and the Harbor Program. As if that wasn’t enough, she has taken a total of 10 AP classes at Nonnewaug.
“Grace took AP chem for fun.” says NHS science teacher Melissa Hodges. “Nobody takes AP chem for fun.”
As Grace has a strong drive to be a leader, she wants to continue that as a possible career.
“I am on the pre-law track,” says Walkup. “As of today I have gotten into five out of the 14 colleges I have applied to so far.”
Being a lawyer takes great determination and lots of leadership to be successful, and there is no doubt that Grace has the drive to go far.
“I am glad that I have the opportunity to be a leader,” says Walkup. “I wouldn’t be where I am now without it.”
