Michelle Brunido doesn’t let many things get her down.
“If I have a bad race, I can let it go,” said Brunido, a San Benito High junior.
Brunido is a versatile talent, as she is capable of racing in a variety of events, including the 100 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 free relay, 400 free relay and 200 individual medley relay events.
As a freshman and sophomore, Brunido’s best individual event was the 100 back; however, this season she’s closer to hitting a Central Coast Section automatic qualifying mark in the 100 free.
“I’m a second or two away (from hitting the qualifying time),” she said. “I’ve been trying very hard to reach that time, and it would mean the world to me if I could get it this season.”
The San Benito High girls have already qualified two of their relay teams—the 200 medley and 200 free — to the CCS Championships. Brunido swims a leg on both squads, and she was particularly ecstatic about the 200 free squad that hit the qualifying mark in a tri-meet against Palma and Notre Dame Salinas on April 11.
Brunido, who swam the anchor leg in that race, teamed with Haley Larson, Grace Larson and Shannon Stevens. As Brunido touched the wall, she rose out of the water and saw the jubilant expressions on her teammates’ faces.
It was a moment she won’t soon forget.
“They were so excited, just screaming and jumping around and hugging each other,” Brunido said. “It was an amazing moment.”
Haybalers coach Christine Schafer said Brunido is a team player.
“Michelle will swim whatever event for the team to do well,” Schafer said.
Brunido, who first started swimming regularly when she was 4, has always been comfortable in the water. Her talent was evident from an early age, as she never had to use any type of float even when she started.
“My first ever memory is just being in the pool and loving it,” she said.
Brunido’s passion for the sport has translated into a rock-solid work ethic. In the last couple of years, Brunido hasn’t taken more than a week off from swimming. Once the high school season is over, Brunido starts training with her club program, the Gilroy Gators.
“Swimming basically takes up all my time,” she said. “From last year’s high school season to club this year, I think in all that time I took a week-long break after a big meet in August. But after the high school season is over this year, I’m going to take a long break.”
Before she takes that long deserved rest period, however, Brunido would like to qualify for the CCS Championships in the 100 free and the 400 free relay.
“I haven’t made CCS in any individual event, and I would be extremely happy if it could happen this season,” she said. “You try hard every year and for so many races, and just hope all your hard work pays off.”
