En Wei Hu Van Wright never saw himself as a Wingate Award winner, but it had nothing to do with his lack of confidence in his accomplishments.
“I was not actually aware of this award until recently,” the Stuyvesant star said.
But there Hu Van Wright stood, dressed to a tee at the Brooklyn Marriott, accepting the PSAL Wingate award for boys swimming on Monday night, the honor is given out annually to the top senior in each sport. Hu Van Wright was overwhelmed just to be considered in the same class as the other athletes in the room.
“I’m very honored,” he said. “I had no idea how accomplished the other athletes in New York City are. It’s very enlightening and inspiring.”
Hu Van Wright has quite a list of accomplishments himself. He was happy and surprised to have won considering the other good swimmers in New York City, though Hu Van Wright is regarded by many as the city’s top dog in the pool.
As a senior, he had the fastest time in the PSAL in five different events, including the 100-yard backstroke (49.23), the 200 individual medley (1:49.70) and the 100 freestyle (45.41).
His dominance in the pool translated into team success as well. Hu Van Wright led Stuy to three straight PSAL city title and division crowns, all in undefeated fashion. The top-seeded Pirates upended Brooklyn Tech, 63-37, in the finals this season with Hu Van Wright winning all three races he entered.
“I think just the relays this year,” he said of what stood out to him. “Our relays have always been strong in the past, but this year they were just really good. We set a lot of records that I don’t think will be broken anytime soon. I think that was the highlight for me.”
His fine career will continue at Princeton next season, after picking them over North Carolina, Harvard and Florida. It was on his visit that Hu Van Wright began to feel that swimming for Tigers was going to be the best fit for him. They get a swimmer who set seven school records, six PSAL records and qualified for the state meet three times.
“I think out team grew a lot,” Hu Van Wright said. “A lot of swimmers stepped up. … It was just fun to see that happen.”
After swimming regularly since he was 10 years old, he is started to see the fruits of his labor in the form of his college destination and his Wingate award.
“It’s very satisfying,” Hun Van Wright said. “Then again, I’m very lucky and humbled by just the whole experience.”