Stories from the Report to the Community: Making Waves

For Mauricio Marquien Mendoza, swimming is more than just a sport, it's a reminder to never back down from challenges to keep growing. 

Mauricio is no stranger to adversity. He lost his eyesight at just 12 years old, yet he continues to find ways to grow both in and out of school. Swimming became one of those challenges. 

What began in his sophomore year as a once-a-month visit to the pool for lessons with D6 adaptive P.E. instructor Connor Rodrigo quickly became a passion. But like any journey of growth, it wasn't easy. Mauricio admits he was scared to even get into the water at first. With practice and encouragement from his teachers, his confidence began to build, enough for him to take a big step and join the swim team. 

"I'm still a little scared, but doing it every day makes me feel more confident," he said. 

Now, Mauricio is a member of the swim team at Greeley West. He competes in the 50-yard unified freestyle, and his season is just getting underway. Last year, he advanced to state in this event. 

"I was the only one with a disability on the team, so I was kind of nervous at first. But I learned to enjoy it and being with other people. They supported me, and they wanted me there as part of the team. I feel like I was included and I wanted to stay on the team.

Stories like Mauricio's highlight the importance of programs like Greeley-Evans District 6's adaptive P.E. program. Without opportunities like these, students might never discover new sports or uncover passions they didn't know they had.