Combating Most cancers, Prime College Inspiration Jack Punswick Finishes 2d at Kansas State Champs
In 2024, as a junior, Jack Punswick gained the Kansas 6A swimming state identify within the 100-yard breaststroke. His time of 57.94 used to be large non-public absolute best, over a 2nd and a part quicker than his prelims swim.
As a sophomore, Punswick’s baseball staff lower him from the squad. The Cool Swim Workforce changed into his house, a spot that might end up extraordinarily fruitful for Punswick’s athletic interests. First of all, he swam to instances across the 1:10 vary within the 100 breaststroke. Going into his senior season, with drops making him a Futures Championships qualifier, issues began to move unsuitable over the summer season.
To start with, Punswick perceived to combat pneumonia. After returning house from Futures, Punswick discovered he had swollen lymph nodes, which simplest were given larger with time. Lower than every week later, it used to be showed: Hodgkin Lymphoma.
A fortunately extremely treatable type of most cancers, Punswick’s lifestyles used to be put nearly fully on pause. Whilst prior to he’d been taking into account what school to take his skills to, now he used to be scheduling chemotherapy. It used to be a state of affairs that threw his complete circle of relatives into the unknown. The one identified relative of the Punswick circle of relatives with most cancers used to be Punswick’s grandmother. She had long past thru breast most cancers with out chemotherapy.
Swimming Thru Remedy
The Punswicks are a circle of relatives with a deep historical past of swimmers. His father swam Department I at Western Illinois. His aunt swam on the College of Evansville. Having a base within the recreation from summer season league, it used to be no longer unreasonable to look Punswick’s development.
After his analysis, on the other hand, the very thought of swimming changed into utterly up within the air, a minimum of for Jack’s fortify staff. For him, it used to be by no means in query. In an interview with Giant Pleasant Swim Podcast, Punswick defined his dedication and self assurance.
“I told my mom the day I got diagnosed. I was like, ‘I’m going to beat cancer and I’m going to defend my state title.’”
In some ways, swimming supplied a way of normalcy for a lifestyles that have been nearly fully upended. It didn’t come with out its demanding situations. Punswick described swimming thru medication the similar method as swimming cooldown after a hard race.
On weeks with chemotherapy on Thursdays, he could be out of the pool the remainder of the week. Per week of normalcy would then precede the two-week procedure repeating. Swimming gave Punswick a technique to get away from bed and feature one thing to paintings towards. Within the fall, his first race post-diagnosis, Punswick shocked even himself with a powerful 1:03 in his signature 100-yard breaststroke. Now not simplest used to be {that a} stellar swim by itself, it additionally certified him for the state championships. His eyes had been squarely on a repeat identify.
Punswick’s self assurance got here from one thing he discovered mid-treatment. All of his swims from July 2024 at Futures, perhaps even from the state championships in February 2024, took place whilst his frame used to be preventing most cancers.
2025 State Championships
The swimming group briefly took realize of the younger swimmer’s perspective whilst he battled his sickness. Workforce USA Olympic legend Nathan Adrian made it some extent of attaining out to Punswick. Adrian, a testicular most cancers survivor, hasn’t ever ignored a chance to champion males’s well being and use his platform in certain tactics. This manner for sure left a long-lasting certain influence on Punswick, who hopes to satisfy the Olympic champion at some point after receiving messages of fortify from him.
Simply weeks from the state championships in February, Punswick submit the quickest time in Kansas within the 100 breaststroke. All eyes at the meet, the senior used to be awarded the Spirit of the State Award. Given to only one athlete in Kansas yearly, it represented every other instance of the way his positivity had impressed extra than simply the folk in his speedy circle.
Days after a CAT scan to evaluate his medication growth confirmed he used to be doing smartly, Punswick stepped as much as protect his state identify. A 12 months older and full of new lifestyles stories, he completed 2nd within the state with a 59.63 efficiency. Whilst unsuccessful in protecting his identify, simply being on the meet and swimming at his absolute best, supposed the sector.
“It is amazing” he stated. “…I wouldn’t be here without the support I’ve had from my parents, my amazing girlfriend, the team at Blue Valley West, my coaches who have been here every single day. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for any of them.”
Opting for to Encourage Thru Hardship
For Punswick, most cancers caused a chance to end up his interior energy. Recommendation that helped him early on used to be his priest telling him: “If you have to suffer, suffer well.”
In one in every of his ultrasounds, Punswick humorously – after having his decrease stomach probed – requested: “Am I having a boy or a girl?” Obviously, for Punswick, struggling smartly supposed no longer forgetting or shedding who you’re.
After receiving such a lot lend a hand right through his nonetheless ongoing medication, Punswick has his attractions set on a pre-physical treatment monitor. His scientific fortify staff, which has endured to seek out tactics to make him smile, impressed him to lend a hand others thru his occupation targets.
Arising first, on the other hand, is an opening 12 months the place a outstanding younger guy will relaxation and heal whilst proceeding his school swimming seek.
