Friendswood senior Jenny Claydon has known for a long time that she would be swimming beyond her high school year. It was just a matter of time as to where she would continue her education and swimming career. The senior swimmer with the winsome smile has selected the University of Pennsylvania   "I always knew that I wanted to swim at a school that had a good balance between academics and swimming," Claydon said. "Penn, being an Ivy League school, has academics many schools cannot compete with and offers the opportunity to attend the Wharton School of Business. I also looked at Emory University and Rice University, but it came down to not being able to pass up an Ivy League education."
   From the time she was a freshman at Friendswood High School, the attractive swimmer made her presence known at the district, regional, and state levels.
   Claydon qualified for the state meet her freshman year after winning Region VI "Swimmer of the Year" honors. Claydon won silver medals in the 100 and 200 freestyle at the 4A state meet giving her the highest finish of any female swimmer in FHS history. But that would be just the beginning.
   In 2002, Friendswood's Eileen Viscontini won a bronze medal for her third-place finish in the 100 butterfly and became the first Friendswood swimmer to win a medal at the state swim meet. That was a special moment for all involved.
   Claydon is the most decorated swimmer that FHS has ever had as she has dominated the district and region meets the past three years. That includes: 12 gold medals at district, 10 gold and two silver medals at region, and one gold and six silver medals at state.
   As a junior, Claydon was a part of the greatest achievement by a Friendswood girls swim team.
   Overall, the Lady Mustangs finished second in the state meet with 158 points behind state-power Dallas Highland Park who won their sixth straight state championship with 246 points, but it didn't come without a fight from the Lady 'Stangs.
   The Lady Mustangs did pull off the upset by taking a first-ever gold medal in the 200-meter relay team that nipped the Lady Scots. The FHS girls barely lost to Highland Park in the 400-meter relay to grab the silver medal. The Lady Mustangs posted a time of 3:36.97 while Highland Park won at 3:36.03. Friendswood recorded the sixth fastest time ever while the Lady Scots were third all-time fastest.
   Claydon captured silver medals in the 100 and 200 freestyle giving her three silvers and a gold last year at the state meet.
   However, swimming is just one facet of Claydon's life as she is currently ranked No. 4 out of 429 seniors and scored 2200 on the SAT. Claydon also was selected as a Peer Assisted Leader (PAL). As a PAL, she works with 3-or-4 younger kids in the school district that are having difficulties in their life whether it is at home or in school. She also spends Friday mornings from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. tutoring 2nd and 3rd grade students in Math.
   She is a member of National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Math Honor Society (Mu Alpha Theta), National Art Honor Society, National Spanish Exam (Silver Medal), AP Scholar with Honor, National Merit Scholar Competition, and Commended Student.
   Claydon has matured over the past three years and is ready for her final year at FHS.
   "I am really excited to be a senior and that college is so close," Claydon said. "It is kind of sad knowing that there is only one more year left, but I know that college will be amazing."
   Swimming has taught Claydon many life lessons that she will carry throughout her life.
   "I have learned that nothing will come easy and success takes work every single day," Coach (John) Little always said it was like looking at practice each day as a popcorn kernel to earn so that at the end of the year there is a bowl full of popcorn to eat."
   The Friendswood girls will be looking to win their sixth straight Region 6 meet, but they will have to do it without sophomore phenom Caroline McElhanny who helped lead the Lady 'Stangs to the second place finish at state last year as a freshman.
   McElhanny was named the "4A Girls Swimmer of the Year" after winning three gold and one silver at the state meet. McElhanny and her family moved to Austin so she could begin training for a potential Olympic career.
   "It was hard for people to see Caroline move, especially the girls her age, but I think we understand that it is something she wanted to do and we need to let her follow her dreams," Claydon said. "We have a strong group of girls this year. The freshman class last year had a good group of girls, and the freshman class this year also has talent."
   Claydon and her teammates use the swim season to prepare them for the state meet.
   "I hope to win at state this year, and I hope to guide our girls to being successful as a team at the state level again," Claydon said.