Raptor Athletes Part 2
Athletic excellence at Magnet is an expectation passed down by tradition. Time after time, our students have proved capable of balancing their academics with the seriousness of the practice it takes to really make them shine in competition. Now that we have successfully introduced our first set of Raptor Athletes, we are excited to share the remarkable stories of these phenomenal Magnet athletes: Quinn Swanton, Peyton Johnson, Calvin Volkmann, Isa Jickling, and Parker Hamilton. Quinn and Peyton have secured Division 1 commitments to Davidson College and Elon University, respectively, with their hard work, talent, and dedication. Regional wins and record-breaking times from these athletes speak directly to the drive, resilience, and sportsmanship that define the Magnet athletes. Let’s take a closer look at the achievements and different stories that have driven them through each success on and off the course.
QUINN SWANTON
Quinn Swanton is a senior cross-country runner who has had a spectacular career here at Magnet. Most recently, he committed to running Division 1 at Davidson College. Quinn has been a key leader of the cross-country team, placing top in many races this and previous years at both the state and national levels. Recently, he celebrated an outstanding milestone in this season with first place at regionals and a PR of 15:38 on October 30th.
Quinn announced, “I’m super excited to announce my verbal commitment to Davidson College where I will be continuing my academic and athletic career! I want to thank my family, coach, and teammates for being there with me every step of the way and want to thank Coach Allden for making this opportunity possible. Super excited for the next four years. Go Wildcats!
It is a well-deserved accomplishment for all the years of unending training and discipline he has put into Davidson. Quinn’s running career started when he was [age], and from the beginning, he had a rare combination of natural talent along with a relentless work ethic. During the years, he has been part of several teams, among them [list teams], where he first started loving cross-country and knew he was going to run in college. His freshman year at Magnet marked the start of his reign of dominance in cross-country, placing him immediately as one of the best runners in the region and state.
Outside of running, Quinn has interests as diverse as his skill set, including dubstep, photo editing, and his involvement with the Cancer Outreach Club, COC.
Quinn’s hard work has not only made him one of the talented runners but also one of the team leaders. Along with his other team members, Calvin Volkmann, Peyton Johnson, and Hunter Kuhnell, Quinn helped shape this year’s cross-country team to be the speediest any Magnet has ever seen. That reflects, from his personal contribution to the team in general, the impact he has made in being committed to making them unstoppable.
PEYTON JOHNSON
Another dedicated senior cross-country runner, Peyton Johnson, has left his mark on the rich tradition of Magnet athletics. Known for his persistence, focused determination, and competitiveness, Peyton has become a leader in his high school career thus far and very recently announced his commitment to Elon University to continue to run at the Division 1 level. Peyton’s running career started in middle school when he gave up soccer for cross-country and track-foreshadowing his interest in distance running. In the years since then, Peyton has polished his gift in the sport, and he possesses an uncanny flair for competition. Last year, Peyton distinguished himself at the SCHSL track state meet with a podium finish that showed some of the progress he has made in his commitment to the sport. Peyton also contributed to Magnet’s cross-country team sensation in second place last season. He earned a placement of 6th place individually, which showed he is among the best in the state. This year, he also added another feather in his cap with his team’s regional win-a victory that spoke volumes about the effort and resilience of his teammates.
“It was a great feat; I am really proud of how hard everyone worked,” Peyton reflected on this accomplishment.
Peyton’s times speak to his discipline and speed – a 4:11 mile and a 15:23 5K. These times denote hours of hard training and a relentless focus on self-improvement. As Peyton heads off to Elon, the legacy he will have left behind him is sure to continue to inspire future Magnet runners. Off of the course, Peyton loves to volunteer, as he is the founder of the Cancer Outreach Club, he also loves watching movies and following running news.
CALVIN VOLKMANN
Calvin Volkmann is another senior whose high school career has been defined by hard work, perseverance, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Calvin’s contributions to the Magnet cross-country team cannot be overemphasized. With steady improvement, course performances, the ability to adapt when challenged, and calm leadership, Calvin has gained a status among his peers that is highly commendable. Calvin’s story of running started when he was much younger, Calvin told us that he ran the mile in elementary school, his coach counted his laps wrong and he believed he went a 5:30, his parents and coaches were amazed and he started running that spring. Since then, he has trained regularly to shave off seconds from his times, based on goals both personal and for the team. His dedication to being a better runner is reflected in his times at meets, where he has steadily continued improving.
With each competition, Calvin challenges the personal bests-one attribute that has reflected much growth in Calvin as an athlete. To Calvin’s athletic contribution, he brings out the best in his teammates. Much speaksto his positive attitude and great encouragement of others. His influence within the team offers uniqueness in how it influences others to strive the best. This is Calvin during training sessions, always pushing himself and others, setting examples of what true commitment means.
His leadership has been considerably understated, but he is a key reason for the cohesion and resilience that have characterized the team this entire record-breaking season of the cross-country team.
As Calvin prepares to finish out his high school career, his dedication to cross-country serves as an inspiration for the younger generation of athletes at Magnet. Calvin’s commitment to success both personally and for his team is certainly impressive t. Calvin’s path reminds us that success with athletics does not necessarily come with a face or accolades; it comes silently and in steady, strong doses that linger.
ISA JICKLING
One of Magnet’s star junior student-athletes is Isa Jickling, recognized not only for her swimming but for all the work she puts in both in and out of the pool. She finished third at the state meet in the 200 freestyle in 1:58.45 and second in the 500 freestyle in 5:18.24. Her leadership skills showed clearly as she brought her 200 freestyle relay team to first place, showing just how much ability and commitment she has to her teammates.
Isa does so much more beyond swimming. She is also an outstanding student in the classroom, truly meeting elevated levels which Magnet has established for students to balance sports and academics. She is one of the people who have just been elected as Vice Presidents of the National Honor Society; she won her position in a landslide. Being part of this honor society, she will promote academic integrity and encourage community involvement among her peers, which she is very serious about. Other leadership experiences from Isa include her involvement with the Junior Student Council, in which she actively participates in planning events at school, initiating student activities, and representing her peers.
Accordingly, Isa is a great role model through her commitment, disciplines, and perseverance. She has been able to handle an ambitious academic workload while competing at the highest level of high school swimming. Her story stands as testimony to what can be achieved with hard work and commitment. As such, she is a pride for the Magnet community and also a model student-athlete who really embodies the spirit of excellence.
PARKER HAMILTON
Rounding out our list of feature athletes is the incomparable junior athlete, Parker Hamilton, a swimmer with an unmatched work ethic. His career has been a long series of early mornings, extreme practice sessions, and endless pursuits of times that are a little bit faster. One of Magnet’s most elite swimmers, Parker took home both individual and team hardware from state meet. One of parkers most notable accomplishments at this meet was his second place finish in the 100free with a time of 47.30. This is such a notable achievement since early on this season Parker suffered an injury at practice and was out of the pool for a couple of weeks in the middle of the season.
Swimming is a unique sport that requires a blend of mental toughness, physical endurance, and technical skill-all developed over many years. His teammates describe him as a powerhouse in the water, gracing his events with explosive starts and smooth strokes. Out of the pool, Parker is a leader among his peers, encouraging his teammates and helping them improve.
The accomplishments of Quinn, Peyton, Calvin, and Parker truly represent the dedication and hard work characteristic of Magnet’s athletes. Each of these seniors has left his mark upon his sport in very different ways, not only through personal success but through inspiring others. They have successfully balanced academics, sports, and personal development, assuring that anything is achievable with just hard work and commitment. As these Raptor athletes go on to do great things, they leave behind in Magnet a lasting legacy to inspire generations to come to greatness with the same passion and integrity. Whether they be competing on the track, in the pool, or in the classroom, these students remind us of lessons of commitment, sportsmanship, and the indomitable Raptor spirit.
