Becton Swimmer Evan Fonseca had an exciting week full of goals and achievements, standing out as the Dec. 11-17 Swimmer of the Week!
Currently, Fonseca holds personal bests in the 100-yard butterfly and the 50-yard freestyle, with times of 24.2 seconds. He is aiming to break the 24-second barrier in the near future. In addition to his individual events, he also competes in the 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Fonseca was surprised to find out that he had been the Swimmer of the Week, and shared that he feels deeply honored to receive this recognition, particularly as a new swimmer. Fonseca is thrilled to see the results of his dedication and effort being celebrated, “I just focus on doing the best I can!”

The star-swimmer’s goals for this season are to improve his best times and facilitate greater teamwork to improve their relays. “I believe that if the whole team strives to do great and work together we will have a great season,” he affirms. Fonseca also places significant emphasis on improving his technique, particularly focusing on refining his flip turns, which he recognizes as crucial for reducing his race times. Additionally, he is dedicated to building his endurance to enhance his competitiveness across a wider range of events. While he is primarily a sprinter, Fonseca is actively working to expand his skill set and versatility as a swimmer.
A swimmer who greatly inspired Fonseca is fellow senior Charles Groh, who consistently motivated and pushed him to improve. Another figure he looks up to is the renowned swimmer Caeleb Dressel, known for being one of the fastest in the world in the 50-yard freestyle. Dressel’s performances remind him that he can always become a better version of himself. Alongside these two, he’d like to highlight his two coaches Mr. Kevin Hoagland and Ms. Lauren Bayersdorfer for “helping me and pushing me to do better. Their comments, efforts, and motivation has helped me become a better swimmer and a better person.”
Coach Hoagland highlights Evan’s exceptional commitment and leadership as key to the team’s success. “It’s truly an honor to see Evan get the recognition he deserves,” said Coach Hoagland. “He’s dedicated so much time, especially in the offseason, swimming with the Rebel Swim Club in Rutherford, and now it’s all paying off in the pool.”
Coach Hoagland noted Evan’s relentless work ethic, practicing 6-7 days a week between high school and club sessions. “Some students might say, ‘It’s too much for me,’ but not Evan. He just keeps working hard,” he said. Beyond his performance, Evan has stepped up as a leader, mentoring younger teammates by correcting techniques and offering encouragement. “He’s someone we can always count on, whether it’s winning races or helping others improve.”
Fonseca’s advice for swimmers would be, “Always keep swimming, but don’t overwork yourself.” He shares that some of his best moments come when he works especially hard in practice but gives himself a few cool down days to rehabilitate. He believes that “a balance of your work and rest can prevent burn out,” and attests that this balance can keep athletes working much stronger and harder. With this mindset, Fonseca demonstrates how dedication paired with self-care leads to sustained success both in and out of the water.