Alex Fox spends hours and hours in the pool.
Moments spent with his Reynolds teammates are far less frequent, which might be why the highlights of Fox's days with the Demons have nothing to do with swimming.
"The three, four team dinners; I really enjoy those," Fox said. "It's one of the few times I get to be around the team."
Fox is one of those elite high school swimmers who toes a difficult line. A senior in his third season with the Demons, he also is in his 10th year of swimming year-round for the Northwest YMCA's Riptyde.
Fox practices from 5:30 to 6:45 almost every morning before school and again from 4:30 to 6:45 after school. Because of how often he hits the water for the Riptyde, he is not required to be at Reynolds practices. But Fox said he tries to make at least one a week, and he was pleased that his year-round schedule did not force him to miss any Reynolds meets this season.
"Everyone is pretty understanding about it," Fox said of his Reynolds teammates. "They realize there's a valid reason I'm not there."
Fox is able to balance competing for both teams. When he entered middle school, he was torn between swimming and soccer and didn't like splitting his time. The choice to commit to swimming has worked well. He competes in the 500-yard freestyle and 200 individual medley for Reynolds and in distance freestyle and the 400 IM and 200 butterfly for the Riptyde.
Fox said he will continue his swimming career at Washington and Lee in Lexington, Va.
THREE QUESTIONS FOR FOX
Q: What is your favorite sports movie?
A: "Moneyball"
Q: Who is the athlete you admire most?
A: Steve Prefontaine (late distance runner)
Q: Who is the best teacher you've had?
A: Mr. Ehnes (economics, Career Center)
Steve Hanf
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