Local Teen a Winner in Swimming, Life

Dominic Azar, 14,  was named Illinois Swimming’s Athlete of the month for December.

Azar, a freshman at Providence Catholic High School and Joliet resident, was nominated by YMCA Jets Swim Team coach Dave Hedden, who had high praise for Azar.

“Azar not only demonstrate a commitment to the swim program, he also shows community spiritedness, and a great capacity for caring," Hedden said. "Dominic gets a great deal of satisfaction from the work he is doing."

Hedden pointed out that one day each week for the last year and a half, Azar works with a young boy who has Downs Syndrome. Azar goes to the boy’s house and helps him with cognitive and physical exercises.

“Even though Dominic misses practice each Wednesday, he’s dedicated himself to making up the practice at another time," Hedden said.

Dominic recently placed seventh in the mile at the Illinois age group championships at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is also an honor roll student at Providence, and has represented Team Illinois in open water competition.

For winning Illinois Swimmer honors, Illinois youth swimming, awarded the Joliet Jets $550 for equipment and supplies.

The Jets are part of the Joliet YMCA and seeks to develop individuals to their highest potential as athletes and leaders in life. For more information on the team, see www.jetsyswimteam.org.