One journey is ending, and another will soon begin for Pine Bush swimmer Elishka Hajek.

Hajek, coming off the best girls’ swimming season in Pine Bush swimming history saw her career culminate with her signing her National Letter of Intent to swim at Division I Campbell University in North Carolina on a full athletic/academic scholarship.

“In the back of my mind I always wanted to swim in college,” Hajek said. “I didn’t want it to end in high school.”

And why not?

Her senior year was her best, reaching the New York State Public Hight School Athletic Associations in four events, one of which clinched Pine Bush’s first state championship. She led off the Bushmen’s NYSPHSAA-champion 200-yard medley relay team with Samantha McKee, Cora Mance and McKenzie Gula with a time of 1:36.88, earning All-American consideration and setting a new Section 9 record. Pine Bush finished second in the New York State Federation, two seconds behind Sacred Heart Academy of the New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association.

She finished third in the state in the 50-yard freestyle and was fourth in the 100-yard freestyle, setting new Section 9 records in the process.

She also teamed with Katie Webster, Madaghan O’Shea and Gula to finish second in the NYSPHSAA and third in the Federation in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

She was also the Section 9 Outstanding Swimmer of the meet at the Section 9 championships.

“Elishka’s attitude and spirit have played a tremendous role with the younger girls on the team,” Pine Bush coach John Barth said. “She has a great work ethic, she eats great, and she doesn’t take herself too seriously.”

She will join a Campbell team that is 4-3 on the current season, and most recently won the TYR ’85 Invitational. Campbell is on a winter break and will return to competition on Jan. 15 at Georgia Southern.

The Camels are coached by Pascal Molinard, the only coach in the program’s 16-year history. They’ve gained all-conference recognition on 12 occasions and have won All-Academic honors 148 times.

Swimming has been a big part of Hajek’s life. She’s been swimming on varsity since she was in seventh grade and reaching the state championships for the first time in ninth grade as part of a relay team. She went to states for the first time as an individual when she was a sophomore, and she said her confidence has grown each year.

As she’s grown, she’s also been her biggest critic.

“I can be hard on myself,” Hajek said. “I want to succeed and do the very best I can every day.”

She’s already had more success than any one swimmer at Pine Bush High School has ever had. Now, her plan is to translate the success she’s had at high school into college.

Success she couldn’t have had without the Pine Bush coaching staff, starting with Barth and also assistant coaches Kathy Gallagher and Mike Reineke.

“We are so lucky to have them,” Hajek said. “I know I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”
Or where she’s going.

In addition to swimming, Hajek plans to major in Criminal Justice with an eye toward working in the law field.

But right now, the focus is on preparing to swim at the next level. And she can still get better.
“Elishka still has room to grow,” Barth said. “Her college coach is lucky to get her. She will put the work in.”