Dedication. Passion. Leadership. The ingredients that turn a decent student-athlete into a team captain, a collegiate-level researcher, a state champion, a D1 commit. This recipe comes together in a pinch for swimmer Sam Huggins, a standout senior student-athlete for State High.
Huggins’ honors include 2025 PIAA State Champion in the 200 freestyle, 2024 state runner-up in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle state runner up in 2023 and 2024, and USA Swimming National Select Team. He’s also a captain for State High’s swim team, and puts the student in student-athlete through his involvement in State High’s collegiate-level biology research course.
Huggins began swimming at five years old on Science Park Recreation Association (SPRA) pool’s recreational summer swim team. When he was nine, he joined the Nittany Lion Aquatic Club (NLAC), a local swimming club team, and he continues to swim with both today. As a freshman, he joined the State High swim team and became a captain in his senior year.
“It started out as a way to have fun and just go fast … and then, over time, it’s kind of evolved into a passion of mine. And having something I can put a lot of work into and get the benefits of, and seeing my work paying off: it’s just turned into so much more than just going fast,” Huggins said.
Teachers, coaches and teammates all highlighted Huggins’ work ethic.
“He’s always just been willing to do the work,” Aaron Workman, head coach for both the NLAC and State High swim teams, said. “He does each workout to the best of his ability … and I think as he matured and grew and started to see some of his success, his goals changed to prepare himself for that. [Working hard] is just a constant in his life.”
“He’s very dedicated, but also, he doesn’t complain at all,” teammate Katelyn Watschke, said. “He works so hard, but usually when other people on the team are complaining … Sam [isn’t]. He’s very focused.”
Huggins himself noted his work ethic as being one of the main things to emerge from swimming.
“The [most important lesson I’ve learned] is the value of hard work … and being able to be resilient against self doubt and pushing through that,” Huggins said.
The work Huggins puts in on the water similarly translates to the classroom. Interested in botany and biology, Huggins is a member of the Advanced Biology Elective (ABE) Research course, where a team of five students complete college-level research in the high school setting. To be selected as a researcher, students must complete at least two advanced biology electives (which Huggins has taken all four), submit a resume and application and go through an interview process. At the end of the year, the selected team presents their research at a symposium, and has the opportunity to professionally publish their work.
ABE Research teacher Danielle Rosensteel emphasized the connection between Huggins’ athletics and academics.
“He is always really prepared, but also, if there is a challenge or a barrier, or a hurdle in any of our research experience, you can see that he doesn’t give up, he always tries to find a solution. He has that drive and resilience that you would see with an athlete; you see that in the lab as well,” Rosensteel said. “[He also has] the ability to work with the team and tries to bring out the positive aspects of every team member.”
Huggins’ ability to bring out the best in a team is also seen in the pool, where his leadership has led to four straight District VI Championships. Workman recognized this, highlighting Huggins’ success as senior captain.
“Obviously, he’s very successful, but he’s also a leader in the pool. If you want to know how something’s supposed to be done, you look over and see what Sam’s doing. If you want to get in the water on time or do extra, that’s what Sam’s doing,” Workman said. “He’s pretty quiet, as far as a lot of the rah-rah stuff. But I think when he speaks, everybody knows that it’s important and they really take to heart what he’s saying.”
Watschke agreed. “I think he’s a very good role model, especially for the young swimmers that really aspire to be at his level—he’s a good leader for the boy’s team. He kind of embodies the type of athlete we want at State High,” Watschke said.
Teachers, teammates and coaches all emphasized the bright future Huggins has ahead. In the fall, Huggins will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to major in biology and compete on the swim team.
