School: Council Rock North
Swimming
Favorite athlete: Destinee Hooker – USA Women’s Volleyball
Favorite memory competing in sports: Making it to states with Geoff Boodey, Jake Goroshko and Brandon McCredie in the 200 Free Relay and the 400 Free Relay
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: Freshmen having trouble counting laps during relays. Collisions occurred. Blood was shed.
Music on iPod: 2 Chainz and KeSha
Future plans: College and Grad School
Words to live by: ‘I’m Different.’ – 2 Chainz
One goal before I turn 30: Make an impact (beneficially)
One thing people don’t know about me: I have a sizable PEZ collection.
If you want to capture Steve Sekula’s attention, just whistle.
In addition to being a standout on the Council Rock North boys swim team, Sekula and classmate Simon Wu are the founders of the Council Rock North Whistling Choir, established in 2011.
“We were just whistling on the beach and we wondered if there were more whistlers,” Sekula said. “It evolved from there, but it’s basically a group of people who like to whistle and we meet once a month.”
The group has not performed an actual concert yet but will make their first public appearance at an ice cream shop, Owow Cow, in Wrightstown in the spring.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “We’ve been asked to go to the small ensemble concert but we didn’t feel we were ready. We’ve had a lot of interest.
“We have about 20 consistent members and about 30 members who come every so often. There are some current sophomores in the choir who I think will do a good job of keeping it going once I’ve graduated so I think it will continue after I’m gone.”
Non-whistlers can participate by playing kazoos generously donated by CR North boys swim coach Brian Johnson or by clapping and snapping.
Whistling is by no means his only musical talent. He also plays the alto saxophone in the marching band.
“I’ve been playing since the third grade,” he said. “I’m pretty serious about it. Our marching band is pretty big and we do well at competitions.”
An excellent student, Sekula, who takes AP classes, is a National Merit Scholarship finalist, a member of the National Honor Society and the treasurer of the Science National Honor Society.
“I like to balance between arts, academics and athletics,” he said. “Academics are very important to me.”
He has not chosen a college yet but is considering a major in computer science or a dual major in art.
“This is my first year taking a visual arts class and it’s been a really great experience,” he said. “I feel like I’ve accomplished so much in a short time.”
One of his pieces is being shown at the Pennsylvania State Educators Association art show.
“I’m looking forward to seeing it there,” said Sekula, whose mother, Katherine, is an art teacher at Newtown Middle School.
He also enjoys making videos.
“I’ve been doing that since around seventh grade, both in school and outside of school.” he said. “I’m not really a business person but Future Business Leaders of America has a event called Digital Video Production. I was able to make a video about preventing texting and driving for high school students.
“My group made it to nationals last year. It was held in San Antonio over the summer. We got first in the state of Pennsylvania, and we got 11th place at nationals. That was a really good experience.”
Sekula is also an Eagle Scout, representing Troop 145 Addisville Church.
And of course, he is a swimmer.
“As a senior captain, he does a great job just helping everyone on the team out,” Johnson said. “He’s a great role model for the team in so many areas; academically, getting involved in other activities and in the pool, where he’s a great worker.
“He’s so well-rounded.”
Sekula was the SOL National Conference champion in the 100 freestyle and took second to teammate Geoff Boodey in the 200 freestyle.
He was also on the winning 200 and 400 freestyle relays as the Indians won the conference team title.
He has been a qualifier for the District One Class AAA meet all four years of high school, competing every year in the 100 and 200-yard freestyles.
“I’ll do those again this year,” he said. “They’re my favorite events and there’s no reason to change now.”
In addition to his two individual events, he will also swim on the 200 and 400 freestyle relays along with Jake Goroshko, Boodey and Brandon McCredie.
Last year the same foursome took second at the district meet in the 400 freestyle relay and fifth in the 200 freestyle relay, earning a trip to the PIAA championships in both events.
They made it to the consolation heat in both relays, finishing 11th in the 200 freestyle relay and 16th in the 400 freestyle relay.
“I have very high expectations,” he said. “I’m hoping our relays will make it to states again.
“As an individual I was close to making it to states last year so I definitely think I have a chance. I was close, but I wasn’t quite there.
“But going to states with the relays was definitely a great experience. That was my first year at states and our whole relay is back this year so I’m hoping for good things.
“Our times are looking at lot better this year than they were last year at this time so we’re excited to see what we can do.”
Johnson is optimistic about Sekula’s chances of going to states in an individual event.
“I think he has a good chance last year and the way he’s been training and the way he’s been racing this year I definitely think he can do it,” Johnson said. “He looks like he’s hungry and really wants it.
“After the state experience last year for all of them, they realized they wanted to come back this year and do bigger and better things.
“I think the relays are capable of that ad I think Steve is capable of qualifying as an individual. I look forward to seeing what he can do.”
