Cayman’s Lila Higgo Named The Florida Times-Union’s All-First Coast Girls Swimmer Of The Year For 2024

By Alric Lindsay

At just 17, Caymanian swimmer Lila Higgo is setting an inspiring example in her final year at the Bolles School in Florida. She has earned the distinguished title of All-First Coast Girls Swimmer Of The Year For 2024 by the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union. This recognition follows her record-breaking performances at her high school and showcases her exceptional talent in regional competitions.

Regional Championships

Looking back at her recent swims, Higgo helped her Bolles School Sharks team win titles at the Florida High School Athletic Association’s 1A Region 1 Championships. The results were as follows:

• First place for the team in the Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay.  Time:  1:42.02
• First place for the team in the Girls 200 Yard Free Relay. Time: 1:33.74
• First place for the team in the Girls 400 Yard Free Relay. Time: 3:22.84
• First place in the Girls 100 Yard Backstroke individual race.  Time: 52.83

State Championships

Moving onto the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 1A State Championships, Higgo and her team won first place in the A-final of the Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay with a time of 1:40.84 (a state record-breaking finish), first place in the A-final of the Girls 200 Yard Free Relay with a time of 1:32.46 and first place in the A-final of the Girls 400 Yard Free Relay with a time of 3:22.44.  According to Swim Swam, these performances gave the Bolles School their 34th straight win.

In addition to the team relays, Higgo won first place in the individual A-final of the Girls 100 Yard Backstroke with a time of 52.74.  This was an improvement over her preliminary time of 54.32 and a school record, according to the Florida Times-Union.

Based on HY-TEK’s Meet Manager data, the above state championship first-place times shattered records previously set by Higgo and her team in the regional championships.

Speedo Winter Junior Championship East

Lastly, from December 11 to 14, 2024, Higgo competed in the Speedo Winter Junior Championship East at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.  She swam a series of competitive races, achieving an Area 1 record of 52.80 in the Women’s 100 Yard Backstroke.  This is a repeat as an Area 1 record setter from last year when she achieved 49.25 in 100 Freestyle, according to SwimCloud.

In addition to her numerous international achievements, it is worth noting that she has now reached All-American swim standards. Academically, she has also been recognized as a Scholastic All-American for the past three years, meeting the qualifying times and GPA requirements.

Cayman Records

Concerning her local records, the Cayman Islands Aquatic Sports Association confirmed that Higgo currently holds the Cayman Islands long course national records in 100 breaststroke (1.13.34) and 200IM (2.20.85).

Higgo Describes Her Recipe For Success

Explaining what it takes to perform at these levels consistently, Higgo shared that she trains nine times a week, including two weight sessions at the Bolles School in Florida.

Notwithstanding the intense training regimen, she emphasised the importance of striking the right student-athlete-life balance.

She shared:

Balancing swimming commitments with school and personal life is definitely a challenge, especially at a rigorous academic school while competing at a high level. However, it has taught me valuable skills like time management, prioritization, and staying focused on what’s most important. Coach Peter often reminds me to give 100% effort in everything I do, whether it’s in the classroom, in the pool, or spending quality time with family and friends.

Speaking more about her coach, she said:

My biggest influence in my swimming career has been my Coach Peter Verheof.

He encourages me and pushes me every day to be my best, both in and out of the pool. He truly understands me and meets me where I’m at and provides the support I need to grow.

He also makes the sport fun and enjoyable not only for me but for the whole team. I genuinely look forward to practices with him and my teammates and over the years, he has helped me navigate injuries, overcome mental blocks, and I’m incredibly grateful for his guidance.

This coaching, family support, and personal hard work positioned her to be recognized as the All-First Coast Girls Swimmer of the Year for 2024 by the Jacksonville, Florida, Times-Union.

Commenting on this, she said:

Being named the Florida All-First Coast Girls Swimmer of the Year is an incredible honor, and I’m super proud of myself for all the hard work and dedication that led to this moment in not only this past season but 3 years before it. It’s a reflection of not just my efforts, but also the amazing support I’ve received from my family, teammates and coaches, who have pushed me to be my best every day. I’m excited about what’s ahead as I continue to grow and take the next steps in my swimming journey.

She also had encouraging words for aspiring young swimmers trying to break through to the next level.

She shared:

Have fun and enjoy the sport. Swimming is a huge commitment and can be difficult, but it is also fun.

Treasure the memories and connections you make along the way.

What’s Next For Higgo?

Speaking of important connections, Higgo previously committed to the University of Michigan, where she is expected to make an impact after graduating from the Bolles School in 2025.

Explaining why she chose the University of Michigan, she said:

The key factors that influenced my decision to commit to the University of Michigan were the coaches, the team culture, and the academic rigor.

The coaches were incredibly invested in me and they believed in my potential, were genuinely excited about my growth, and made me feel like I had a lot to contribute to their program.

I was also drawn to the team’s competitive and ambitious spirit; being part of a program that consistently performs at a national level really motivated me.

On top of that, the university’s strong academic reputation was a perfect fit for my goals outside the pool. It felt like the ideal balance of athletics and academics.

Concerning her aspirations at the University of Michigan, she shared:

My goals while at Michigan are to compete at NCAAs. I aspire to represent my team well and score points in both individual events and relays. Academically, I look forward to challenging myself in an environment that will set me up for my future to come.

Although she is expected to have a busy schedule at the University of Michigan, Higgo remains very committed to the Cayman Islands, which she hopes to represent on a world stage, including at the Olympics and beyond.

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