At 8 a.m. on a chilly Monday, one week before his freshman year started, Matt Maury stood on the deck of Kirkwood Community Center’s outdoor pool surrounded by 30 swimmers he had never met. He had just moved to Kirkwood from Los Angeles few days prior with his mother and sister, knowing no one else in St. Louis. Fast forward four years and he is the captain for the KHS boys’ swim team, is in the top 10 in his class and has developed a strong circle of friends.

“It was hard going into high school knowing no one,” Matt said. “I’d say the first year I kind of jumped around with who I’d hang out with. I didn’t really have a set group, but as I’ve progressed through high school I’ve aquired some really good friends.”

When Matt first joined the team he met other swimmers, but he made no strong friendships with any of the guys on the team until after his first year. However, one relationship that developed quickly was with the head swimming coach Matt Beasley.

“As far as athlete-coach is concerned, it’s a pretty close relationship,” Beasley said. “I would say not having a father figure here in St. Louis, there were times where he definitely confided in me and looked to me for some guidance. Because of that we’ve grown close. I think he trusts me. I think he values my opinions, and I hope he listens to what I have to say.”

Matt, who began swimming in sixth grade, found himself in the fast lanes during practices as a freshman, where he swam workout sets alongside junior and senior club swimmers. According to Beasley, Matt was not initially one of the fastest on the team, his work ethic allowed him to eventually compete with the upperclassmen.

Matt qualified his sophomore, junior and senior years for the state championship meet. This year he placed 17th in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle at the State Championship meet, missing swimming in the finals race by a less a second in each race.

“It was a little bit disappointing [missing swimming at finals], but I didn’t really mind that much because I’d say my junior and senior year I was doing it a lot more for the camaraderie and just because I enjoyed the team than the actual competition,” Matt said.

Matt’s work ethic transferred to other aspects of his life as well. He spent time doing community service on work camp through his church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Alamosa, Colorado and Charleston, South Carolina. He also participated in the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) during his junior year, a program in which he lived in Hamburg, Germany for a month with a host family. These experiences, combined with swim team, he said, helped him develop a broader view of the world.

“[Those programs] taught me important principles,” Matt said. “For swimming, you actually do get a concrete reward from working hard, for work camp, trying to do things not just for yourself but for others and then for GAPP, having a curiosity and acceptance for other cultures. Some of my best friends come from those programs too. I had friendships with these people before, but they really strengthened them.”