With the pools closed during the earlier stages of the pandemic, Korrie Tengan roughed it in the Pacific.
Out the door by 6 a.m., destination Carlsmith Beach Park so she could get her laps in, then back home just before class to get a quick change of clothes.
“I love competition, that’s why I’m swimming,” Tengan said of her decade-long passion.
But what about when there are no competitions?
Tengan, a Waiakea High senior, could go on listing all the sporting events and opportunities she’s missed in Hawaii and on the mainland the past 10-plus months. But there are advantages that come with being a competitive swimmer, including these two: Not only is she versatile, but Tengan is not inclined to look back. Not in the water, nor on land.
“Not competing has been a struggle,” Tengan said. “I definitely feel like I missed out and didn’t get to finish. But at the same time, it’s not just me, it’s everybody else in the community.
“When all this happened, I had to think about what’s ahead for me, and that’s college swimming, so that kept me motivated the best I could.”
Before the high school swimming season was canceled, Tengan was a lock to finish her BIIF career with the maximum eight individual medals, and she lost a chance to leave as a three-time champion in the individual medley and the backstroke. She’s the league record-holder in the 200-yard IM, underscoring her mastery of all the strokes, and the butterfly.
As a senior, Tengan would have pushed for her first HHSAA championship gold medal after grabbing silver in the IM as a sophomore and bronze in the breaststroke in 2020. There also were myriad club age group meets, championships and regionals wiped away, and the smaller stuff, too, like an opportunity to defend her title at the Richardson Rough Water Swim.
However, it’s the bonds and friendships that Tengan misses the most.
“My senior year, what I was looking forward to was spending time with my teammates and seeing other people from the state,” she said. “They are amazing competitors, and that always pushed me.”
As an underclassmen, Tengan said she struck a balance between being a serious swimmer and fun-loving teammate.
“I love rooting on my teammates, screaming my lungs off and making sure they’re having fun and going to them and giving them high-fives. Those things are more important to me than my times,” she said. “As long as they come out smiling, that’s always been the most important thing.
“We haven’t been able to make those memories that we wanted, but you have to stay safe an be patient. It will get better.”
And her pools will get bigger.
A competitive swimmer since age 6 and a member of Warrior Aquatic Club for “forever,” Tengan was in the eighth-grade when she started thinking about swimming in college. A few years later, as her times continued to fall, Kyle Tengan finally got with the program.
“Around my sophomore or junior year, my dad said, ‘You know, I never thought you would go Division I,”’ she said. “I was like, thanks, dad.”’
Better yet: wrong, dad.
Tengan helped get the word out to colleges, eventually signing with Fresno State of the Mountain West Conference, choosing the Bulldogs over a similar scholarship offer from Rhode Island. (Signing with the Rams would have made her a New England neighbor of former Waiakea teammate Mina Poppas, who swims with Vermont along with Hawaii Prep alum Kira Parker).
Tengan goes sight unseen — the NCAA has barred in-person recruiting visits since March — to Fresno, Calif., having only met coach Jeanne Fleck via Zoom. Tengan is considering majoring in business or psychology.
“What made me say Fresno?” Tengan said. “It’s an overall good community, very diverse, very open and not too far.”
And what made Fresno choose Tengan?
Ask Bill Sakovich, coach at Waiakea High and Warrior Aquatic Club, and he points to her mindset and versatility.
“She wants to do it and works harder than everybody else,” Sakovich said. “(Fresno State) is getting a swimmer that can help out with all the strokes.”
Tengan is trying her hand at surfing, and she said she’d dive right if it’s determined a BIIF water polo season can be salvaged this spring.
“Anything,” she said to scratch the competitive itch.
“I know going into it at Fresno that I’m not going to be No. 1, and that’s what I was hoping for. I love to work my way up. Challenging myself was the main reason I chose Fresno.”
