Pueblo County senior Kandi Liberato overcomes adversity to reach state swim meet
Mar. 13—Kandi Liberato is a proven commodity in the pool, but she's had to overcome adversity her senior season to try and return to form.
Not only has the Pueblo County High School senior had to face what the COVID-19 pandemic has presented, but she claims she's not comfortable being a leader, a spot that comes with success and being an upperclassman.
Liberato has been one of the Pueblo area's top swimmers for the past three seasons and has been an annual participant at the state meet. Last season as a junior, she placed fifth in the Class 3A state meet in the 100 backstroke and was seventh in the 200 individual medley. She also swam on the 200 medley relay that placed fourth and the 400 freestyle relay that was 12th.
As the 2021 state meet approaches on Monday at the VMAC in Thornton, Liberato expands on her role with the powerful Hornets as they eye a high finish in the final team standings. Pueblo County finished seventh last season and was the state runner-up in 2019 and 2018.
She talks about being thrust into a leadership role as an upperclassman.
"I absolutely hate it," she admitted. "I know that people look up to me like the younger girls and others who aren't up to my level. I don't think I have the leader quality. But I know I have to take that spot even though I don't want to.
"I usually don't go straight up to someone and say I've been a senior and I've been here the longest. It's when girls ask me 'can you watch this' and I'll help them with their stroke. That's only if they ask for help, then I'll help them."
This season, Liberato is ranked No. 10 in the 200 IM and No. 8 in the 100 backstroke and has qualified for state in both events.
While she believes backstroke is her best event, she really doesn't look at rankings, at all.
"I really don't pay attention to my rankings," she said. "My only thing is I have to qualify and what I do at state is what I do at state. Rankings to me don't matter until we get there."
Liberato isn't sure whether she'll swim in college and really hasn't pursued that part of her life yet. She does know she would like to be standing atop the podium in an individual event.
"I think everyone would like to win one," she said. "It would be pretty cool if I could win."
Liberato also swims on two relay teams the Hornets also have qualified for state — the 200 medley and the 400 freestyle.
"I love the relays," Liberato said. "I love any relay. It's just a fun thing to do. Being on a relay kind of pushes you to go faster because others are depending on you."
Dancing around a pandemic this season has been difficult for Liberato and her teammates, mainly because of the shortened season.
"It's been extremely difficult because we haven't had the full year of training," she said. "And we have only had seven dual meets and don't have the bigger meets to go against the better competition so we can get better."
Still, Liberato feels her team can do well at state this season. She was asked the question: How will your team do this season at state?
"I think every team has a chance," she said. "Our team has a chance just like any team. I wouldn't look at the rankings, the expectations. It's what we bring to state it's what we do at state."
Chieftain interim sports editor Jeff Letofsky can be reached by email at jletofsky@chieftain.com or on Twitter @jeffletofsky
