Getting to Know Alexander Moshensky

Alexander Moshensky lives to swim.

The 16-year-old Hollywood High junior has spent a good portion of his life in the swimming pool, rising before sunrise on countless mornings to improve his craft.

His hard work has paid off, as Moshensky has become the Sheiks' top swimmer. At last year's City Section championships, he won the 200-meter individual medley by four seconds and he finished a close second in the 100-meter backstroke.

"He's not just a good swimmer, he's a good student," said Vlad Lando, Hollywood High's boys' swimming coach. "He has the talent to end up swimming at a university."

Moshensky took a breather beside the Hollywood High pool this week to talk to Patch about his past, present and future in the sport he loves:

Patch: How did you get involved in swimming?

AM: Around 10 or 11 years ago, my parents signed me up for YMCA classes in Beverly Hills and I just started swimming. It was mostly just for fun at first, but then I went to my first competition and did surprisingly well, getting a couple of first-place finishes. From there, I took it seriously. It just escalated.

Patch: Did winning that event as a child propel you to turn swimming into a serious passion?

AM: It gave me a self esteem boost. From that moment on, it just pushed me.

Patch: Do you participate in any other sports besides swimming?

AM: I play basketball and two-hand touch football in the park with friends, but swimming is my main focus.

Patch: How do you prepare yourself before a meet?

AM: It depends on the meet. If it's a more important meet like the Junior Olympics, which we train the whole year for, then just everything in your mind goes blank.  You don't think about anything. You just have to be prepared.

Patch: What's the feeling when you finish first in a big race?

AM: It's amazing because you know you're better than everybody at that meet. You feel superior.

Patch: Would you like to continue swimming competitively after high school?

AM: That's my main goal. I want to get a scholarship from a top university. I want to swim for them and get a great education.

Patch: What's your ideal scenario?

AM: Full scholarship to USC, Stanford's great, also. (laughs) That would be ideal, but I'll be ecstatic with any scholarship.

Patch: What are your goals for this season?

AM: Trying to beat the L.A. City record, which might boost my popularity around the coaches and lead to scholarship offers. I just want to make personal bests and drop as much time as possible.

If you know a student-athlete from Hollywood or Bernstein High who deserves recognition for their achievements, contact Dan Hanzus at dhanzus@gmail.com.