Lexi Anderson points to the holistic coaching of Tom Popdan as a key to her success in swimming.

LAHAINA – She is a young teenager that represents the steadfast pathway to success that has solidified the character and integrity of the Lahaina community.

Seventeen-year-old Lexi Anderson grew up here on the West Side and attended Sacred Hearts School and Lahaina Intermediate School, and she will graduate from Lahainaluna High School in the spring of 2020.

From the age of five, Anderson was guided by her parents – Marilyn Anderson and Bob Dezotell – into the swimming programs at the Lahaina Aquatic Center under the mentoring of renowned coach Tom Popdan.

She excelled in the sport, earning countless club and high school honors, including the 15-18 age group High Point Championship for 2018, 100-meter butterfly state titles in 2017 and a crowning achievement of being selected to the 2018 Scholastic All-American roster.

Most recently, Lexi earned the most cherished award that a high school senior could ever dream of: a scholarship offer from a highly accredited Division I university.

Anderson had narrowed her college search down to a handful of schools and chose San Diego State University over several others.

With her 3.5 grade point average, the support of her family and the determination and work ethic gained growing up in Lahaina going into the next chapter of life, the path of the future looks golden for this humble student and aqua-athlete.

“My thanks goes out to my parents, all of my coaches, teammates, friends and the community. I have always felt supported and encouraged by everyone around me, and this has helped me become what I am for this opportunity. Now, I get to go to college,” she said with a big smile.

In particular, Lexi pointed to the holistic coaching of Popdan as a key to her success.

“Coach Tom gets into the minds of his swimmers and coaches both physically and mentally. We go into races calm and feeling our own best self,” she explained.

Aside from her mom and dad, Popdan is the one most familiar with Lexi.

“Lexi embodies all that we are trying to achieve with the swim teams. She is a leader of our team and never misses a practice. She gives maximum effort in every practice, and that’s why she is where she is as a leader of our team,” Popdan said.

“Her parents have always given her tremendous support, and now the younger kids look up to her and see that it is possible to get to college. Lexi went through an exhausting college search and found San Diego State to be the best fit for her. She will be a great representative of our program, and now all of the younger swimmers can aspire to be like her.”