Neuqua Valley senior Maxine Parkinson is adept at applying her academic mindset in an effort to enhance her athleticism.
She used that formula to become one of the top swimmers in the state, leading the Wildcats to their first two state championships.
Parkinson, who won 10 individual state medals over the past three seasons, will continue her career at SMU.
“What makes Maxine so special is she wants it,” Neuqua coach Jason Niforatos said. “She loves the sport and she loves learning about it.
“Her swimming IQ is very high. If I ask Maxine to do one thing, she will have a bunch of questions on how to get even better at that.”
While she has been overshadowed by junior teammate Rachel Stege, a Georgia recruit who has won three individual state titles, Parkinson is Neuqua’s most versatile swimmer.
She has three straight top-4 finishes in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke while swimming on two state championship relays, including the 200 free that set a state record in 2019.
Parkinson also holds school records in the 200 IM and as part of the 200 medley and 200 free relays.
According to Parkinson, she gets her talent and inquisitiveness from her mother Rei, who was a member of the Japanese synchronized swimming team that won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and a silver medal four years later in Sydney.
“My mom has been swimming her whole life,” Parkinson said. “She has the dedication.
“She taught me you have to have the ability to connect how you think you are moving through the water and how you are actually moving through the water. That’s a skill she developed, and she’s taught me a lot about.”
Parkinson has been swimming since she was 5. She credits Niforatos and her club coach, Deryl Leubner, with her development.
“It’s nice to have two different perspectives on my swimming,” Parkinson said. “I think that has definitely elevated me as an athlete through these four years.”
Parkinson also has reached rare heights in the classroom, where she takes mostly AP classes and scored a 35 on the ACT. Her focus is laser sharp, in and out of the water.
“She’s the first one on deck and the last one to leave,” Niforatos said. “She comes to every optional practice.
“She has a plan. She’s really good about keeping her focus and is phenomenal at leading by example. I don’t think there is a single teammate that doesn’t have a profound amount of respect for what she does.”
In return, Parkinson has the utmost respect for the program. The lessons learned, more than the state titles won, mean the most to her.
“I came in freshman year not really knowing anyone on the team, but building those bonds, even at school, (was important),” Parkinson said. “It’s one thing to work with other people for a project or school work, but it’s different spending three or four hours, day in and day out, creating that bond with them.
“That’s something I’ve never experienced before and it’s something I definitely would have missed if I didn’t do high school swimming at Neuqua.”
Parkinson also bonded with the swimmers on her official visit to SMU, which she chose for its combination of swimming and academics, including internships opportunities in the Dallas area.
She plans to major in biology and perhaps pursue a career in environmental science.
“I’m excited for her,” Niforatos said. “It’s a great program for her and a great situation.
“She has very high goals career-wise, and that’s going to be a stepping stone for her. She’s going to find success wherever she goes.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
