Bremerton High School’s wall of swimming records at the Bremerton Family YMCA includes the names of the elite: swimmers not only regarded as some of the best ever in Kitsap County but athletes who went so far as to capture the attention of the world and even some Olympic gold medals.
The names include sisters Tara and Dana Kirk who achieved USA swimming history in 2004 when they became the first siblings to swim for the same Olympic team, while Nathan Adrian capped his career with five gold medals and the former American record in the 50-meter freestyle.
Senior Gabbie Patti now finds herself taking the final laps in a Bremerton swimming career that has solidified her presence among those names, and while the sky’s the limit to what she can accomplish, swimming coach Andrea Cochran had three words of advice for her: “Enjoy the moment.”
It’s a simple yet soothing phrase for a swimmer who has spent much of high school in the fast lane. Patti has blazed her way to school records in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke. She has also claimed two consecutive state championships in the 50-yard free in 2022 and 2023.
Just as she has in years past, Patti has already begun to rack up qualifying times for the 2024 state meet at the King County Aquatic Center this November. At her team’s Oct. 2 home meet against Port Angeles. She secured a 2-minute .36 second finish in the 200-yard freestyle and came within one second of her 2022 school record with a time of 59.84 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke.
“She’s heard me say this before, but she’s the hardest-working athlete I have coached across all sports,” Cochran said. “It’s one thing to be talented, but it’s another thing to be willing to put in the work, and swim is so cerebral. Gabbie’s really good at that, almost to a detriment sometimes.”
It’s why Cochran said she has focused more on the mental piece of swimming with Patti this season. “The senior season is gravy,” she said. “You’ve done all the work, and I think she’s progressed and developed as a leader on the team.”
Patti said she has fought her battles with the stresses of swimming, especially last season. So while she maintains her wishes to accomplish even more this season, whether it’s new records or new titles, she’s taking her coach’s advice and has another objective toward the top of her list—to enjoy her senior year. “I have a goal this year to try my very best to have fun and enjoy the ride rather than trying to stress myself out, which I did last year.”
Along with the high fives, hugs and a HOCO proposal that have gone with her final high school season in the water, part of that process has included a less stressful search for a post-secondary education. She wants to go to Division 3 George Fox University in Oregon, a smaller college that would have less pressure than a Division 1 school. “I think I would get burnt out if I did D-1, and plus, it’s closer to here. Just a drive on the highway.”
But she will miss Bremerton, where her name is among the all-time greats. “Seeing my hard work pay off has kept me going, and it’s going to be hard to leave after this year.”
