Scholar Athlete Of The Week: Mingna Xu

BRIGHTON, N.Y. – Brighton senior Mingna Xu’s path to the pool isn’t too different than how a lot of kids started.

“I’d say when I was younger my mom put me in a lot of sports,” Xu said. “She signed me up for like lessons, swim lessons as any little kid would.”

But once she dove in, she didn’t stop. And with those swimming strokes came the results.

“I placed third in the 100 butterfly, and fourth in the 100 backstroke, and was able to just sneak into the All-American consideration,” she said. “Cut time for the 100 backstroke.”

It makes sense why Xu was the All-Greater Rochester Swimmer of the Year a season ago. And she’s maintained that degree of excellence in school too.

“I have made a decision to commit my swimming career at Cornell University, so I’ll be continuing there for the next four years,” she add.

It all comes from a work ethic that prevails, even on days when she’s not always up to it.

“I will have days where, you know, I drag my feet to practice, and I won’t want to get in the pool, and I won’t want to swim, but I definitely think the opportunity to be something greater than yourself is definitely what drives me,” said Xu.

Congrats to Brighton High’s Mingna Xu on being this week’s News 10 NBC Scholar Athlete of the Week!