Pioneer Athlete Spotlight on Kaylee Pond
Club: Gehringer Park Swim Team
Age: 19
Sport: Swimming
CONCORD, CA — Pond’s birthday allowed her to swim this summer for Gehringer Park even though she turned 19 during the season and is getting ready for her sophomore year at Iowa State University where she will be a redshirt freshman on the Cyclones softball team. This one final chance to swim with the Gators ended up having the team win its second staraight Concord City Meet B Division championship and Pond captured the 15-18 age group high point girl swimmer award. She won the 100-yard butterfly and took second in the 100 individual medley in her eighth year swimming for the team after first joining as a 10-year-old.
Pond shares her love of sports with GPST head coach Kelly McCabe McYoung, who is in her sixth year as Gator head coach. McYoung swam for the team located in the Dana Estates community from the time she was three until aging out at 18. The coach is a member of the Ygnacio Valley High (inducted in 2017) and Diablo Valley College Hall of Fames (inducted in 2012) for her multi-sport exploits in water polo, basketball and swimming.
Growing up, Pond played almost every sport including swimming, softball, basketball, soccer, track, water polo, volleyball and cross country. At Acalanes High where she was Diablo Athletic League MVP in both basketball and softball, her softball duties precluded her from swimming on her school team. Pond was named Prep2Prep North Coast Section junior of the year and was ranked No. 26 prep athlete (all sports) in the Bay Area by SportStars Magazine.
Coach McYoung says, “Kaylee is a one-of-a-kind athlete and I am so lucky to have met her, but I am especially lucky to have been able to coach her. She is the one who is always encouraging everyone during the hard swim sets and isn’t afraid to show her emotions when she’s frustrated or happy.
Kaylee makes everyone feel welcome and is always making us laugh on the pool deck, especially during her pre-race rituals where she is either pretending she’s up to bat, doing the latest TikTok dance or swinging her arms on the block like Michael Phelps.”
Away from the softball field or swimming pool, Pond’s interests include thrifting, hanging out with friends and going on mini adventures.
The Pioneer congratulates Kaylee and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years at Family Vision Care Optometry.
Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.
Jay Bedecarré
Jay Bedecarré is a long-time resident and writer in Concord and Clayton. He began his newspaper writing career while still a senior at Mt. Diablo High School and he has been part of The Pioneer since its inception in 2003. Jay also operates Bay Area Festivals, presenting events around the San Francisco Bay Area including Bay Area KidFest annually in Downtown Concord.